Move quickly to expand Lifeline and Link-Up to support broadband services that can support voice as well as other applications;
Expand Lifeline and Link-Up to support broadband services this year;
Create a financial set-aside for competitive grants within the Lifeline program;
Expand and simplify eligibility rules, create incentives within the program to reach target populations and reduce waste and fraud, and mandate combined outreach (and possibly administration) of this program with other similar programs;
Increase efficiency and reduce waste by incorporating into the Lifeline program the latest and best thinking regarding federal benefit programs—particularly by expanding and simplifying eligibility rules, creating incentives within the program to reach target populations and reduce waste and fraud, combining outreach of this program with other similar programs, and redefining “household”;
Postpone any consideration of a cap until the reforms proposed in the current proceeding can be implemented; and
Take this opportunity to reevaluate the current distribution of financial support between universal service funds to support low income consumers and programs that support high cost areas.
NHMC has been a supporter of Lifeline and Link-Up in the past and will continue to advocate for ways to improve the programs as they serve such a vital role in many of our communities.
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