NaLA Submits Comments to Bipartisan, Bicameral Universal Service Fund Working Group

As the only ecosystem-based organization focused on ensuring that low-income Americans have sustainable, affordable access to essential communications services, NaLA has submitted comments to the recently re-launched bipartisan, bicameral Universal Service Fund (USF) Working Group. Because NaLA’s members have extensive experience offering affordable communications services to low-income households through their participation in the Lifeline program, NaLA has focused its comments almost exclusively on the USF’s Lifeline program. 

• NaLA proposes increasing the Lifeline subsidy amount to $30 per month to improve the program’s effectiveness at providing eligible households with sustainably affordable access to connectivity.
• NaLA recommends modifying the one-per-household rule to provide additional support for low-income multi-member households.
• NaLA suggests mandating access to state SNAP databases to determine eligibility and protect program integrity.
• NaLA advocates for requiring all service providers to use the National Verifier for identity and eligibility verification to better guard the program against waste, fraud and abuse
• NaLA proposes improving USF Administrator data publication practices to enhance program transparency and accountability 
• NaLA endorses expanding the USF contribution base to keep the contribution factor low while still meeting program needs.