Expanded Lifeline Program No Substitute for High-Cost Support, CCA Says
The Competitive Carriers Association supports Lifeline overhaul, teed up for a vote at next week’s FCC meeting (see 1505280037), but not at the expense of other USF programs, CCA officials said in a series of meetings at the agency. CCA…
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members participate in the program, it said in an ex parte filing posted Wednesday in docket 11-42. “CCA and its members support efforts to restructure the Lifeline program to meet today’s most pressing communications needs, including providing low-income consumers affordable access to broadband, as long as the Commission does not abandon support for voice services -- especially in rural areas -- and these changes are not made at the expense of other USF programs.” Some CCA members serving rural communities are concerned about uncertainty on available high-cost universal service support “for operating, upgrading, and expanding wireless networks in rural areas,” CCA said. This support is key to “facilitating investment, which promotes competition and broadens the number of providers who can offer services through the Lifeline program,” the association said.