The Lifeline program and universal broadband access

In anticipation of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) considering updates to its Lifeline Assistance program, Andrew Jay Schwartzmanpublished a short history of the program at the Benton Foundation’s Digital Beat blog.

Particularly important is the way Schwartzman explains how a century-old commitment to universal communications access has evolved with technology, now including not only wireless services, but broadband as well:

Thus, universal service offerings were not to be locked into the wired analog services of 1996 as we have moved into the wireless digital world of 2015.

There are now four programs paid for by the Universal Service Fund. The money in this fund does not come from taxes, but from fees paid by wireless and landline telephone subscribers based on their long distance and international usage. (Look at your phone bill; you will see the fee enumerated.) In addition to Lifeline, there is a “Connect America” fund which supports high cost rural connectivity, the so-called “E-rate” subsidizing schools and libraries and a Rural Healthcare fund.

Lifeline – Where Did It Come From? (The Benton Foundation, May 18, 2015)