American Cable Association: Lifeline Needs Major Overhaul

The American Cable Association says that the Federal Communications Commission's Lifeline program needs a major overhaul as the FCC migrates the phone subsidy for low income Americans to a broadband subsidy.

ACA says the FCC should:

• Allow providers to require pre-payment for service
• Support recurring and one-time coast
• Allow customers to use the subsidy toward any service
• Not impose the FCC's own service requirements
• Have third parties, rather than carriers, verify eligibility
• Give benefits directly to Lifeline customers
• Streamline the provide eligibility process.