OTI Applauds FCC’s Lifeline Modernization Plan

WASHINGTON, DC — The Federal Communications Commission announced today that the agency is considering a proposal to “reboot” Lifeline, a program created by the Reagan Administration in 1985 to subsidize telephone service for low-income Americans. The proposed changes would give eligible participants the option to apply the $9.25 subsidy toward broadband service instead of telephone service.

The following statement can be attributed to Sarah Morris, Senior Policy Counsel for New America’s Open Technology Institute:

“Lifeline is a tremendously important program that helps our most vulnerable stay connected. From homeless veterans trying to secure jobs and housing to pediatricians providing care for low-income children, Lifeline makes it possible for low-income families across the country to access critical services and connect with their loved ones.

“However, the time has come to modernize Lifeline to reflect the realities of modern communications — an era in which broadband access is as critical as the phone service before it, and an era in which many low-income households rely on mobile broadband as their primary means of connectivity. Extending Lifeline benefits to broadband is a prudent step that reflects Americans’ increasing reliance on Internet-based services. OTI strongly supports the Commission’s efforts to reboot this vital program.”