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The Federal Communications Commission has told nine companies that they can no longer provide broadband using a federal assistance program. The program gives low-income people a $9.25 monthly household subsidy to purchase home Internet or mobile broadband service.
These nine companies were the first to gain a new designation made possible by the Lifeline phone subsidy program’s expansion into broadband service. Until today, the companies could sell broadband-only plans in many states to people who were eligible for the monthly subsidy. The FCC decision released today acknowledged that some poor people “will see their monthly bills increase by no more than $9.25” as a result of the decision.
This is one of several decisions made by the commission’s former Democratic leadership that were rolled back today by newly appointed Chairman Ajit Pai, a Republican. “These last-minute actions, which did not enjoy the support of the majority of commissioners at the time they were taken, should not bind us going forward,” Pai said.
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Source: Ars Technica – FCC makes it harder for poor people to get subsidized broadband