FCC Staff Pause Lifeline Voice-Only Phasedown, MSS Increase

The FCC Wireline Bureau paused phasedown of Lifeline voice-only support until Dec. 1, 2022, said an order Friday, in a move that some had expected (see here). Staff waived the increase of minimum service standards for mobile broadband until then. The bureau didn't address the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates’ petition for reconsideration and instead acted on its own motion.

"The persistent subscriptions to voice-only service offerings, pace of adoption of broadband, and net benefits of continuing voice-only support ... provide strong considerations for maintaining Lifeline support for voice-only services for at least one additional year," the order said. The Lifeline market report released in June and "extenuating circumstances unforeseen until this year ... provide additional evidence in favor of pausing the phase-down."

CTIA "[appreciates] the FCC’s action to preserve Lifeline support for low-income consumers who continue to rely on wireless voice services," said Senior Vice President-Regulatory Affairs Scott Bergmann: "This step is important for vulnerable communities and will give the FCC an opportunity to review and modernize its low-income support programs taking into account its experience with new Congressional programs focused on meeting these consumers’ needs.”

NASUCA didn't immediately comment and the FCC didn't immediately answer our query.