Civil rights coalition condemns Chairman Pai’s attacks on Lifeline, prison phone reform, media ownership diversity

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition comprised of more than 200 national organizations that promotes and protects civil rights, condemned FCC Chairman Pai’s recent attacks on the Lifeline program, prison phone rates, and media ownership diversity. In a letter requesting a meeting to discuss Pai’s agenda and the civil rights community’s priorities, the coalition rebuked Pai’s recent actions at the FCC on behalf of the millions of people it represents.

Chairman Pai recently acted on three telecom issues that are important to people around the country. He tried to undermine the Lifeline program, a low-income subsidy program that now includes broadband, by revoking the designations of nine companies. He withdrew the FCC from a legal proceeding that would give the agency authority to reduce the exorbitant prices families of incarcerated people must pay to speak with their loved ones. And he rescinded guidance on Joint Sales Agreements, ultimately weakening one of the few protections news consumers have from media consolidation.

“While we appreciate your announced intentions to address the digital divide and to proceed in a more transparent manner,” the letter said, “your recent decisions on Lifeline, Joint Sales Agreements (JSAs), and inmate calling rates are of profound concern to The Leadership Conference and its Media/Telecommunications Task Force, organizations that are dedicated to ensuring affordable broadband, increasing media ownership diversity, and ending predatory prison phone rates.”

Read the full letter here.

Links:

The Leadership Conference letter to Chairman Pai (The Leadership Conference, Mar. 7, 2017)

CWA to FCC: low-income families need Lifeline broadband program (Speed Matters, Feb. 23, 2017)