Lifeline and Link Up: Making the human right of communication accessible to all Americans
Yesterday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) held an Open Meeting on Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization, including a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to comprehensively reform the Lifeline program to ensure the availability of communications services to low-income Americans.
Lifeline and Link Up are components of the Universal Service Fund (USF). The FCC created the USF in 1997 to meet the universal service objectives of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Act requires that telecommunications corporations contribute to a universal infrastructure that allows all Americans regardless of class, income or geography to access advanced telecommunications services. This requirement equips all schools, classrooms, health care providers, and libraries with 21st century communications capability. It additionally ensures that all Americans have access to a landline telephone for such essential services as 911.
In October of 2011, the FCC voted to overhaul the USF and shift the focus of the program to broadband deployment.
In response to yesterday’s meeting, Media Literacy Project and our partners at Media Action Grassroots Network (MAG-Net) released the following statement:
"Today’s announcement is a good first step in an important process that modernizes the Universal Service Fund and its programs. Given our tireless advocacy on behalf of and alongside communities of color and America's poor, we're especially excited to hear the Commission will not be placing a cap on the low-income programs.
Our network recognizes the strong leadership of Commissioner Clyburn and her staff to ensure this outcome and we remain hopeful that the programs will proceed in a way that ensures access to this critical service for the communities we serve and who need it most.
We are also pleased the Commission is beginning to address broadband adoption in addition to broadband access. We look forward to working with the Chairman’s office to continue to find ways to bring down costs of subscriptions for community members most affected by the current state of the economy."
To help working families in New Mexico access critical communications tools donate to MLP today.
Media Literacy Project is currently serving a two-year appointment on the Federal Communications Commission Consumer Advisory Committee in Washington, DC.
