Speed Matters Urges Expansion of FCC Help To Low-Income Population

While most of us struggle only to find the best telephone deals, many people have trouble affording any telephone service at all. "While telephone service has empowered many African American communities across the nation," writes the Minority Media & Telecom Council (MMTC), "many low-income blacks have struggled to pay for phone service - and that is where the federal government has stepped in."

The MMTC is publicizing the FCC's Low-Income plan funded by the Universal Service Fund - Link-up America and Lifeline. According to the FCC, "Link-Up America helps consumers with telephone installation costs," and "Lifeline provides discounts on monthly telephone service."

Speed Matters and CWA have long supported expanding the Lifeline/Link-Up low-income subsidy programs to include broadband. To that end, CWA has joined the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights' Media and Telecommunications Task Force in its campaign to urge the FCC to expand these programs to support broadband. Most recently, an LCCR Media Task Force delegation met with FCC Chairman Genachowski to promote urgent FCC action on this matter. The Chairman has indicated that he will move forward on Lifeline/Link-Up reform.

Almost 100 million households, mostly low-income, do not subscribe to broadband service, because it is too expensive, they can't afford a computer, or they don't have digital skills.

Lifeline/LinkUp Programs Can Help Strengthen Our Communities (Broadband & Social Justice website, Oct. 31, 2011)

Universal Service Program for Low-Income Consumers (FCC website)

Leadership Conference on Civil Rights' Media and Telecommunications Task Force letter (Oct. 21, 2011)