CTIA Very Concerned About Wheeler Lifeline Proposal
CTIA has real concerns about statements in the fact sheet the FCC released on its pending Lifeline overhaul order, officials with the group said in a series of meetings at the FCC. The fact sheet was released when Chairman Tom…
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Wheeler circulated a Lifeline order last week for a vote at the agency’s March 31 meeting (see 1603080024). “The Commission’s proposal to ‘flash cut’ mobile wireless [voice] services to an ‘unlimited’ minimum offering this year appears to disregard affordability as a primary objective of the Lifeline program,” CTIA said, according to a filing. “The record and general market offerings demonstrate that ‘unlimited’ mobile wireless voice plans are substantially more expensive than the $9.25 Lifeline subsidy.” The proposal appears to move the program away from technological neutrality, CTIA warned. “By eliminating support for mobile wireless voice services while maintaining support for fixed wireline offerings, the proposal appears to violate … principles of competitive and technical neutrality,” the group said, saying many low-income people need their wireless devices to call 911 in an emergency. The FCC would be better off launching a discussion of Lifeline rules involving all major stakeholders, CTIA said. An inclusive process “could lead to agreement on a path forward to reach the Commission’s goals of unlimited Lifeline voice minutes and greater adoption of broadband services, on a reasonable timeline that will avoid flash cuts and loss of critical services for millions of low-income people,” the group said. CTIA met with aides to Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel. The filing was posted Wednesday in docket 11-42.