FCC Extends Pause of Lifeline Mobile Data Increase and Voice Phase-Out

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) extends, for a year (until December 1, 2026), the waiver pausing both the phase-out of Lifeline support for voice-only services and the increase in the Lifeline minimum service standard for mobile broadband data capacity. Without this decision, support for services that meet only the voice minimum service standard, which currently stands at $5.25 per month, would be eliminated in most areas on December 1, 2025. Additionally, absent a pause, the minimum service standard for mobile broadband data capacity would rise from 4.5 GB to 29 GB per month beginning December 1, 2025. The Bureau finds good cause to pause these changes for an additional year.  Absent this action, the minimum service standard for mobile broadband data capacity would have experienced its largest increase since Lifeline minimum service standards were established. This action will avoid changes that could potentially result in the disruption of communications for Lifeline subscribers as the FCC establishes and evaluates the record in the Delete, Delete, Delete proceeding, a wide-ranging deregulatory review. Maintaining Lifeline program stability through this action will limit burdens on providers and low-income households while the FCC considers future activity regarding Lifeline voice-only service and setting minimum service standards.