COALITION PUSHES FOR USE OF LIFELINE, LINK-UP FOR BROADBAND

摘要

The wireless industry and the Alliance for Public Technology asked acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps to use the universal service Lifeline and Link-Up programs to spur broadband adoption among low-income Americans. All broadband providers should be eligible for program money, regardless of technology, they said in a letter. The senders included the CTIA, the Rural Cellular Association, the Rural Telecommunications Group, AT&T, T-Mobile and Qualcomm. The low-income programs have made local phone service "widely available at an affordable rate," and should be applied to broadband, they said. "In stark contrast to other proposals to increase U.S. broadband subscription, these targeted dollars will put low-income Americans on equal footing when choosing a broadband provider."