Cherokee Tribal Organization ‘Stongly Opposes’ FCC Lifeline Changes
November 9 — In light of the FCC’s proposed changes to the Lifeline Program, there have been responses from several Native American Tribal Organizations, including Oklahoma’s Cherokee Nation, the United States’ largest federally-recognized tribe. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief, Bill Baker wrote the FCC to express strong opposition to the proposed changes that will be up…
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Tribes Request Delay of Lifeline Changes Affecting Tribal Members
November 7, 2017 — Native Public Media responds to recent proposed Lifeline Program changes that will greatly impact areas that currently receive Enhanced Lifeline Tribal Support in a letter to the FCC. A draft of the orders explaining the proposed changes to the Lifeline Program was released on October 26th, 2017 and the proposed rulings…
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Lifeline Advocates Urge FCC to Reconsider Proposed Program Changes
On October 26th, the FCC published the upcoming November 16 public meeting agenda, which calls for some significant changes to the Lifeline Program, which provides affordable communication services to low-income Americans. Advocates of the Lifeline Program are now voicing their concerns about some of the proposed rules, which will mainly aim to: Direct Lifeline Funds…
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FCC Proposed Lifeline Changes Affect Tribal Areas
The proposed FCC changes to Tribal Lifeline were outlined by Chairman Pai in a recent release of the November 16 Public Meeting Agenda. The Agenda outlines the Chairman’s intentions for the Enhanced Tribal Funds that support bridging the digital divide on the Tribal lands in Oklahoma and Nevada. FCC Proposes Limitations on Tribal Land Subsidies…
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John Heitmann Presents “Lifeline: Washington Update”
About "Lifeline: Washington Update": This presentation focused on the recent Lifeline activity on Capitol Hill, at the FCC and coordination with other Lifeline stakeholders. Included in this discussion was the minimum service standard increases and the use of unlicensed spectrum such as Wi-Fi, as well as notices for plan transitions. About John Heitmann: John Heitmann,... READ MORE
FCC Public Notice Released on Lifeline Program Changes and 2018 Lifeline Budget
The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) released a public notice (see below) last week specifying the new standards of speed and usage allowances for Lifeline-supported services. The changes take effect December 1, 2017 and are part of requirements outlined in the 2016 Lifeline Modernization Order. Included in the FCC notice is the program’s 2018 budget…
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FCC News: Broadband Service A Priority in Infrastructure Spending Bill
Making Broadband Service A Priority in the Infrastructure Spending Bill FCC Chairman Ajit Pai spoke at Carnegie Melon University in Pittsburgh last week, addressing his views on the importance that broadband become a priority in the infrastructure spending bill. His speech was one of many on a tour to share his broadband agenda in several cities, including... READ MORE
FCC Releases Order on Reconsideration for Lifeline Broadband Providers (LBPs)
New FCC Chairman Pai released an Order on Reconsideration for LBP designations on Friday, allowing the FCC to reconsider the Lifeline Broadband Provider (LBP) designations for nine new Lifeline broadband providers. Recently effective changes per the 2016 Lifeline Modernization Order included the extension of the Lifeline Program to include broadband services. Inclusion of Lifeline-supported broadband allows…
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USAC Submits 2017 National Verifier Plan for Lifeline Program to FCC
Updates to the November 2016 Draft of the National Verifier Plan have been submitted to the FCC and the January 2017 National Verifier Plan is available to review. The rollout of this plan estimates that the system, which will replace annual Lifeline recertification and the FCC Form 497, will begin implementation on December 31 of... READ MORE
Benefit Port Freeze, Lifeline Modernization Order
The pending changes within Lifeline per the Modernization order will go effect in on December 2. Yesterday, NLAD released a new version (2.8.11) into the pre-production environment that includes the 12 month or 60 day Port Freeze Restriction, which will go live when the order takes effect next month. USAC confirms the intentions of the upcoming changes…
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