FCC Wants Low-Income Broadband

The FCC is looking into expanding its Lifeline low-income telephony program to include broadband Internet service. Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler is seeking comment on a number of proposals, including:

• Ensuring minimum service standards for voice and broadband
• Changing Lifeline eligibility administration from a service provider responsibility to a neutral third party administrator
• Increasing competition among providers on price and service offerings
• Requiring providers to retain documentation regarding the eligibility of their Lifeline customers to facilitate oversight and audits
• Extending all record retention requirements from three to 10 years
• Making key performance data easily available to the public

The FCC has been taking a keener interest in Internet topics lately. Earlier this month, the Commission announced plans to start keeping a closer eye on Internet service providers' privacy practices, and it faces a court challenge over its Open Internet Order issued in February.