On Wednesday, March 21st Congresswomen Eshoo and Clarke Oppose FCC Lifeline Changes in a letter to FCC to Chairman, Ajit Pai, encouraging him to protect the Lifeline Program.

Eshoo and Clarke Oppose FCC Lifeline Changes After a Recent Committee Vote

Congresswomen Anna G. Eshoo and Yvette D. Clarke composed a letter following a recent meeting where the FCC voted 3 to 2 on party lines to proceed with a new proposal that will make it harder for eligible households to attain Lifeline’s services. The FCC’s plan includes establishing caps on the Lifeline program, requiring co-pays from participants, and negating 4 out of 5 of the current providers of Lifeline services. The letter encourages the Chairman to protect the Lifeline program, because without it, Americans who participate in the program will not be able to do things like schedule medical appointments, help their children complete their homework, keep in contact with the government, or keep in touch with their family. “The program helps Americans-including disproportionate numbers of veterans and people of color-help themselves.”

Congresswomen Suggest National Verifier as an Alternative Solution to Proposed Lifeline Changes

Eshoo and Clarke expressed in their letter that they understand the Chairman is aiming to restrain fraud and abuse, “experts have repeatedly testified that the sorts of measures you are proposing do not have a successful track record.” Instead, the two give another solution to the Chairman’s concerns of fraud and abuse, which is rolling out the National Verifier. In the letter they share that, “The Government Accountability Office has testified that the National Verifier will resolve most issues that may remain with the program without the same brutal side effects” as removing almost 8 million participants from the program.

The congresswomen were not alone in their opposition to recent FCC changes to Lifeline. The letter opposing FCC changes to Lifeline was signed by 60 House members, who all concluded that the proposal is “untimely, counterproductive, and undermines [their] shared goal of connecting everyone.”