FAQs
1. What is the Lifeline program?
Answer: The Lifeline program is a government subsidy program that provides financial assistance to low-income individuals and families to help them pay for phone service.
2. Who is eligible for the Lifeline program?
Answer: Individuals and families with incomes at or below 135% of the federal poverty level, or who participate in certain government assistance programs, may be eligible for the Lifeline program.
3. How much of a discount does the Lifeline program provide?
Answer: The Lifeline program provides a monthly discount of $9.25 on phone service.
4. What changes is FCC Chairman Ajit Pai proposing to the Lifeline program?
Answer: FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is proposing to implement administrative changes to the Lifeline program to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse, including requiring carriers to verify that Lifeline subscribers are alive and prohibiting carriers from incentivizing employees or agencies to sign up new customers.
5. What are some of the controversies surrounding the Lifeline program?
Answer: The Lifeline program has been plagued by fraud and abuse, with reports of subsidies going to fake or deceased individuals and ineligible customers receiving the subsidy.
6. What measures have previous FCC chairmen taken to address problems with the Lifeline program?
Answer: Previous FCC chairmen Julius Genachowski and Tom Wheeler implemented measures to root out duplicate applications and create a National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier to prevent ineligible individuals from receiving the subsidy.
7. Is FCC Chairman Ajit Pai proposing to cap the Lifeline program or exclude wireless resellers from offering Lifeline service?
Answer: FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s latest proposal does not address the question of whether to cap the program’s funding or eliminate resellers.
8. Why do critics say that capping the Lifeline program and excluding wireless resellers would hurt the program?
Answer: Critics argue that capping the program’s funding would reduce the number of people who can receive the subsidy, and that excluding wireless resellers would limit the options available to Lifeline participants and potentially lead to higher costs for phone service.
9. What is the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier?
Answer: The National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier is a system created by the FCC to prevent ineligible individuals from receiving the Lifeline subsidy.
10. When was the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier rolled out?
Answer: The National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier was rolled out to six states in March 2018 and expanded to 11 more states in June 2018. It is expected to be rolled out to the rest of the country by the end of 2018.
11. What is the purpose of the FCC’s inquiry into the Lifeline program?
Answer: The FCC’s inquiry into the Lifeline program is to examine whether the program is effective and efficient, and to consider whether any changes are needed to improve its operation.
12. When is the FCC expected to vote on the latest Lifeline proposal?
Answer: The FCC has not yet scheduled a vote on the latest Lifeline proposal.
Summary
The Lifeline program is a government subsidy program that provides financial assistance to low-income individuals and families to help them pay for phone service. The program has been plagued by fraud and abuse, and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is proposing administrative changes to the Lifeline program to address these issues. These changes include requiring carriers to verify that Lifeline subscribers are alive and prohibiting carriers from incentivizing employees or agencies to sign up new customers.
The FCC is also considering more controversial changes to the Lifeline program, such as capping the program’s funding or excluding wireless resellers from offering Lifeline service. Critics argue that these changes would hurt the program and leave millions of poor Americans without phone service.
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If you are a low-income individual or family, you may be eligible for the Lifeline program. To find out if you qualify, visit the Lifeline website at [Lifeline website address].
Source: https://anytimesoftcare.com
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