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. 

Some highlights from the comments NaLA submitted:

• 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.

The full comments, including an executive summary, are available here.

Led by Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Representatives Richard Hudson (R-NC9) and Doris Matsui (D-CA7), the USF Working Group is seeking comments from stakeholders across the country to explore the current state of the USF and suggest proposals for the modernization of the Fund and the programs it supports.