Post by John Doe on Apr 23, 2013 8:05:35 GMT -7
salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50872/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=10436
A recent Washington Post article highlighted growing criticism of the low-income phone subsidy program known as Lifeline, which was founded under President Ronald Reagan's administration and expanded to include cellphone service during the presidency of George W. Bush.
Despite its Republican beginnings, this crucial subsidy that keeps low-income families connected to schools and job opportunities and to E-911 has come under attack by conservatives who mischaracterize the program as a massive giveaway called "Obama phones" being distributed at taxpayer expense. In fact, wireless and landline Lifeline programs are funded by the Universal Service Fund (USF). Telecommunications providers must contribute to the USF through an assessment on their interstate and international revenues. While the telecommunications providers typically pass the USF assessement on to customers in their bills, Lifeline subsidies are not taxpayer funded.
The House Communications and Technology Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the Lifeline program on April 25. Sign this petition now so we can deliver it to the committee in advance of the hearing.
Let your elected representatives know that you strongly oppose any cuts to Lifeline. Sign our petition to protect low-income Lifeline telephone subsidies:
- Curbing Wireless Lifeline will harm families, seniors, veterans, minorities and other key groups of low-income Americans.
- Wireless lifeline delivers important benefits to low-income families, including helping people find work, stay connected to schools and seek help in an emergency.
- Efforts already are ongoing by the Federal Communications Commission to curb fraud and make wireless Lifeline more efficient.
- The Lifeline program is not taxpayer funded but paid for by assessments on telecommunications carriers.
A recent Washington Post article highlighted growing criticism of the low-income phone subsidy program known as Lifeline, which was founded under President Ronald Reagan's administration and expanded to include cellphone service during the presidency of George W. Bush.
Despite its Republican beginnings, this crucial subsidy that keeps low-income families connected to schools and job opportunities and to E-911 has come under attack by conservatives who mischaracterize the program as a massive giveaway called "Obama phones" being distributed at taxpayer expense. In fact, wireless and landline Lifeline programs are funded by the Universal Service Fund (USF). Telecommunications providers must contribute to the USF through an assessment on their interstate and international revenues. While the telecommunications providers typically pass the USF assessement on to customers in their bills, Lifeline subsidies are not taxpayer funded.
The House Communications and Technology Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the Lifeline program on April 25. Sign this petition now so we can deliver it to the committee in advance of the hearing.
Let your elected representatives know that you strongly oppose any cuts to Lifeline. Sign our petition to protect low-income Lifeline telephone subsidies:
- Curbing Wireless Lifeline will harm families, seniors, veterans, minorities and other key groups of low-income Americans.
- Wireless lifeline delivers important benefits to low-income families, including helping people find work, stay connected to schools and seek help in an emergency.
- Efforts already are ongoing by the Federal Communications Commission to curb fraud and make wireless Lifeline more efficient.
- The Lifeline program is not taxpayer funded but paid for by assessments on telecommunications carriers.