USTelecom, NTCA Seek FCC Clarity on Lifeline Broadband Minimum Standards Petition
USTelecom and NTCA met with FCC officials on Lifeline minimum service standards set to be implemented Dec. 1, per filings (and here) in docket 11-42 posted Tuesday. The standards would bump up speed and capacity requirements for fixed broadband, which…
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could result in "a forced upgrade," NTCA said, and create "the perverse effect" of pricing some customers out of broadband. Require all Lifeline providers make their minimum advertised speed available to all Lifeline subscribers in that area and give existing Lifeline broadband customers the option of upgrading to the minimum or applying current tiers to Lifeline discounts, NTCA said. It asked the FCC to answer an industry petition to postpone implementing the update (see 1907300076). USTelecom emphasized knowing soon if implementation changes to prevent customer confusion and undoing carriers' preparation. Representatives from USTelecom and members CenturyLink, Consolidated, Verizon, and Windstream met with aides to Commissioners Brendan Carr, Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks. They repeated concerns on a Lifeline representative accountability database (see 1907050036). NTCA officials met with an aide to Chairman Ajit Pai.