Stakeholders Back Lifeline Voice-Only Support

August 4, 2021 by Gabriella Novello|Wireline

Industry and advocates backed restoring reimbursement for Lifeline voice support. Comments posted Tuesday in docket 11-42 on NASUCA’s petition for FCC reconsideration of the 2016 Lifeline order on phasedown of voice-only support. Comments were due Monday (see 2106280011). Voice service is “an essential service and should be fully supported through the Lifeline program,” NASUCA said. "Affordable voice service remains essential for low-income households," said the National Lifeline Association, which CTIA echoed. The California Public Utilities Commission agreed: voice service is "essential" in areas where broadband affordability and access are obstacles. Lifeline users "will be forced to buy broadband bundles, which may be unaffordable to them or unwanted" if voice-only support is no longer available, said NTCA. The Wireline Bureau's recent Lifeline market report (see 2107060056) "confirms our early observation that voice services would continue to be popular with and needed by Lifeline recipients," said Free Press.