FCC Boosting Lifeline Broadband Standards Stirs Confusion
The FCC's boosting some standards for what type of broadband is eligible for Lifeline government subsidies caused some stakeholder confusion in the hours after its Thursday release. Some state telecom and industry representatives were puzzled why the otherwise routine-looking staff…
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action came as a CTIA et alia petition is pending (see 1906280012). The Wireline Bureau public notice also came one day after NARUC members approved a resolution asking the FCC to not make such changes (see 1907240043). The PN noted it's delivering on what a 2016 order envisioned. NARUC voted to ask the agency to "freeze the broadband minimum service standards for Lifeline at the December 2018 levels -- 2 GB per month/household at $9.25 -- until the FCC concludes its 2021 Lifeline Study and determines an appropriate standard based on usage data available at that time." The PN announced "newly calculated minimum service standards for fixed and mobile broadband" to be effective Dec. 1. The fixed broadband minimum will be 20 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps up; with some exceptions, and data of at least 1024 GB monthly. Mobile broadband will rise to 8.75 GB a month "pursuant to the calculations set out in the 2016 Order" as speed "remains 3G mobile technology." The 2020 budget rises based on inflation to $2.39 billion. Stakeholders couldn't be certain whether the PN is solely standard procedure under the Lifeline order, or whether it signals anything about how the agency might react to the petition from CTIA and others and to the NARUC request. Comments are due July 31 on the petition by CTIA, the National Consumer Law Center, National Hispanic Media Coalition, OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates and United Church of Christ, Office of Communications. Two state regulators who sponsored NARUC's resolution weren't fazed, thinking this action doesn't prejudge what the FCC might do on their request. "Knowing the review process at the FCC," U.S. Virgin Islands Public Service Commissioner Johann Clendenin emailed he's "fairly certain this was an independent action." It's "probably something that they probably had ready to go" at the FCC, said Nebraska Public Service Commissioner Crystal Rhoades Friday. "We’re going to continue to talk to them, try to get them to change their minds." The FCC replied that this is a standard procedure, under current rules, and didn't comment on prospects for the pending requests.