On October 7, 2019, Mike Romano and Tamber Ray of NTCA met with staff from the FCC Wireline Competition Bureau to discuss changes to the Lifeline Link Up program. NTCA supported the notion of Lifeline customers having the same choices as all consumers when it comes to voice and broadband services but expressed concerns that any changes to the program should be driven by customer choice rather than regulatory mandate. NTCA noted the Commission's prescribed minimum service may force consumers to upgrade to a higher speed tier than they may need, want, or have the ability to afford and could have the potential for the consumer to cease buying broadband altogether which is counter to the benefits of the Lifeline Link Up Program.
Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization, WC Docket No. 11-42