Earlier this week, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) reintroduced ?The Broadband Adoption Act of 2013? (H.R. 1685) to propose reforms and modernization to the nation?s telecommunications federal Lifeline Program. Bill co-sponsors include Ranking Members Henry Waxman (D-CA), Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), and Reps. Diana DeGette (CO), Zoe Lofgren (CA), Jan Schakowsky (IL), G.K. Butterfield, (NC) and Ben Ray Lujan (NM).
Photo: http://matsui.house.gov
In remarks today at a hearing entitled ?The Lifeline Fund: Money Well Spent?? of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, Rep. Matsui emphasized that the history of the Lifeline Fund shows bipartisan support, with creation of the fund in the Reagan administration and expanded for wireless services by the Bush administration. She said that in her Sacramento, California district, nearly 30,000 of her constituents participate in the Lifeline program, 17,000 of which are seniors living on a fixed income.?The Lifeline program must be reformed and modernized in a responsible manner, and it must account for the Internet Economy,? Matsui stated. ?Nearly 100 million Americans still have not adopted broadband, which is more concerning given more than 80 percent of available jobs in this country now require online applications.?
She said her bill allows eligible Americans in rural and urban communities to use Lifeline program for broadband Internet services, and not just voice services. The bill also requires the FCC to implement a national eligibility data base to ensure only one Lifeline per eligible household, to avoid waste, fraud and abuse of the program. Lifeline is funded by surcharges in federal communications services.
The bill gives the FCC 270 days after date of enactment to adopt a final rule establishing Lifeline program support for broadband that enables qualifying low income customers living in urban and rural areas to purchase broadband service at reduced charges by reimbursing providers who elect to participate in the program. The customer can elect to apply support from the Lifeline program to basic telephone service, voice telephony service or broadband service, whether each service is purchased stand-alone or in a bundle.
The bill directs the FCC should consider a preference to participating broadband providers who provide digital literacy programs as part of their offerings. The FCC is asked to consult with the Federal-State Joint Board whether state matching funds may be provided as a condition of eligibility for low income households within a particular state. The bill directs the FCC is to routinely study the prevailing market price for broadband service and prevailing speeds of broadband service adopted by households. The program is to be technology neutral; a provider need not be an ?eligible telecommunications carrier? to receive support under the program but should be FCC authorized to participate.
The Broadband Adoption Act drew supporting public statements by two FCC Commissioners, Chairman Julius Genachowski and Commissioner Mignon Clyburn. Last year, the FCC rolled out a pilot program to add broadband access to Lifeline?s support for landline and mobile phones. The new legislation would make broadband a permanent offering.
?I commend Congresswoman Matsui for her continued leadership on ensuring that low income Americans have access to broadband by addressing one of the key barriers to adoption ? cost,? commented Chairman Genachowski in a written statement. ?[T]ransitioning Lifeline support to 21st century communications is vital: today, broadband is essential for finding jobs, allowing children to do their homework, communicating in times of emergency and accessing vital health information.?
In her statement, Commissioner Clyburn emphasized that the FCC?s Lifeline reforms have led to significant savings of $200 million, which may grow to $400 million this year. She stated that ?expanding broadband service to low income consumers would be a boon for the nation with this savings.?
About Rachelle Chong
Rachelle Chong is a nationally known expert on telecommunications, broadband, wireless communications, cable, digital literacy, public safety communications, renewable energy and smart grid policy. She is a former Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (Clinton appointee) and the California Public Utilities Commission (Schwarzenegger appointee). Prior to that, she has been Vice President, Government Affairs for Comcast California Region, Special Counsel for the CA Technology Agency, a partner at two international law firms (Graham & James and Coudert Brothers), and an entrepreneur. Rachelle is delighted to brush off her Journalism degree from Cal Berkeley, and serve as a columnist for Techwire, focusing on federal policies and the San Francisco and Silicon Valley tech/telecom beats.ambien wwdc madden 13 cover dalai lama tamera mowry slow jam the news madden cover
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