Rep Velázquez Urges FCC to Preserve Lifeline Program

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Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) led 47 Members of Congress in writing to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai urging the commission to preserve the Lifeline program. Lifeline is a federal assistance program under the FCC that provides communications services to low-income consumers. In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, nearly 20 percent of Puerto Rico’s population has relied on Lifeline for essential telecommunications services. However, under Chairman Pai recent proposal to rollback the program, 75 percent of existing customers in Puerto Rico would lose their telecommunications carrier.

“Lifeline fills a critical gap in Puerto Rico, and given the devastation from Hurricane Maria, this program is now more important than ever,” lawmakers wrote in the letter. “After many communities endured widespread lack of communications post-Maria, they should not be forced to endure additional hardship. Continued, reliable access is essential for the Island’s economy to recover and to help stop the outmigration of the Island’s residents.”


Rep Velázquez Urges FCC to Preserve Lifeline Program