Congressional Progressive Caucus Presses Wheeler on Lifeline Overhaul
House Democrats from the Congressional Progressive Caucus sent FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler a letter Thursday, as expected (see 1601280013), backing the FCC’s push to overhaul its Lifeline program. The letter emphasized the importance of broadband to the program’s future. “Rather…
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than allowing providers to oversee the eligibility verification of consumers as the Lifeline program expands to include broadband, the FCC should streamline the process with preexisting databases for other federal assistance programs,” said the letter, signed by 81 House Democrats. “We encourage the Commission to implement the expansion as soon as possible, as we cannot be inactive and allow the digital divide to further deepen at the expense of the 53% of low-income households without broadband access.” Congressional Progressive Caucus Vice Chairman Mark Takano, D-Calif., is the first signature, followed by caucus co-Chairmen Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., and Keith Ellison, D-Minn. Absent among signatories were Communications Subcommittee ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., and Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J.