The Record is Clear: the FCC Must Abandon Its Dangerous Lifeline Proposal

Today, OTI submitted reply comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding its Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which suggests several dangerous changes to the Lifeline program. OTI highlighted the comments from representatives from industry, public interest organizations, and other groups who similarly criticized and opposed the FCC’s proposals, as OTI did in January. In the reply comments, OTI urges the FCC to abandon proposals that would make it tougher for qualifying low-income consumers to apply for Lifeline and would endanger the privacy of those participating in the program. Specifically, OTI and other commenters oppose the FCC’s proposals to monitor the data usage of Lifeline subscribers and prohibit carriers from offering program participants free handsets.

Below is an excerpt from OTI’s reply comments:

“The Commission must reject the proposals to prohibit [eligible telecommunications carriers] from offering free handsets and to monitor Lifeline subscribers’ data usage. The Commission should heed the concerns raised in the record from a wide range of parties, abandon this item, and refocus its energy on improving participation in the Lifeline program and protecting the privacy and digital security of its participants.”