The FCC recently announced approval for Lifeline Low-Income Subsidies for Internet Plans. The vote on Thursday, June 18, 2015 was 3 to 2 in favor of extending the U.S. government's Lifeline program to offer subsidies for broadband Internet, and not just basic phone service. [1] Since 2012 the FCC has been investigating broadband pilot programs for low-income families. [2] In 2014 a total of $1.6 Billion Dollars was spent on the Lifeline program which served some 12 million households. The program has been noted for much fraud and waste and the FCC is attempting to curb this. The Lifeline program is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). USAC is responsible for data collection and maintenance, support calculation, and disbursement for the low-income program. [3]
End Notes
[1] The FCC wants to help America’s poorest pay for Internet, by Brain Fung, Washington Post
FCC votes in favor of allowing Lifeline low-income subsidies for Internet plans By Roger Fingas, Thursday, June 18, 2015, Apple Insider
[2] FCC Low-Income Broadband Pilot Program
FCC Reforms, Modernizes Lifeline Program for Low-Income Americans
