California LifeLine Should Support Family Broadband, Say ETCs
California LifeLine providers urged expanding the state low-income program to better support families needing broadband. “Average consumer mobile data usage nationwide is far higher than the current service offerings in California,” so LifeLine "should support more robust broadband data offerings,…
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including potentially family plans with additional subsidized lines,” the National Lifeline Association commented in docket R.20-02-008 on a California Public Utilities Commission scoping memo (see 2004140013). Also filed Monday, Sprint said the CPUC should consider funding family plans and expanding voice and data support to other members of eligible households. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Lifeline providers have seen “that other household members have an ever-growing need for individual access” to voice and data, Sprint said. AT&T and Charter Communications warned the CPUC to make participation in LifeLine broadband programs voluntary. Synchronize with the federal Lifeline broadband program to maximize consumer benefits and simplify provider participation, said AT&T. As in the federal program, California LifeLine customers should be required to choose between voice and broadband support so as not to overburden the fund, it said. Rather than specify a low-income broadband service tier, the CPUC should consider coupons that could be used on any internet plan, proposed Charter. The cable operator opposed "on jurisdictional grounds the use of any program that would purport to regulate pricing and terms and conditions for broadband services.” Cox Communications warned the CPUC to address legal and policy issues first. Don't impose minimum service standards for wireless broadband, cautioned TracFone.