OTI wrote and submitted reply comments supporting a Petition for Reconsideration to retain support for voice-only service in the Lifeline program. In the comments, we point out the vast support in the record for supporting low-income consumers who only want voice-only service. We note and agree with other commenters on the record that 1) removing voice-only support will harm a consistent percentage of low-income customers who have demonstrated voice-only service is what they most desire with the help of the Lifeline subsidy, 2) removing support threatens to financially burden these households as they will instead have to purchase either more expensive broadband bundles or voice-only services without Lifeline’s support, and 3) eliminating support for voice-only service, which plays a critical role in emergency situations, would endanger low-income households.
