National Coalition Urges Senator McCaskill to Support Lifeline Program
WASHINGTON – On Thursday, a diverse coalition of more than 35 public-interest, civil-rights and community-based organizations sent a letter to Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill highlighting the importance of the Lifeline program. The signers include AARP, the Center for Media Justice, Consumers Union, the Free Press Action Fund, SEIU Missouri State Council, the National Hispanic Media Coalition and the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates.
Earlier this month, McCaskill sent her own letter to Acting Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn, suggesting that President Obama’s ConnectED initiative could be supported by defunding the Lifeline program. Lifeline provides a modest subsidy for basic telephone service to our most vulnerable communities, including seniors, people with disabilities and struggling families.
The groups reject the idea that funding for schools and libraries should come at the expense of the Lifeline program’s subscribers. The coalition’s letter explains that both programs are essential to advancing our nation’s broadband goals.
“These two programs are complementary pathways to bringing connectivity to our country, and we believe that both are necessary if we are to eradicate the digital divide and reduce economic disparities,” the coalition wrote.
Free Press Action Fund Policy Counsel Jennifer Yeh made the following statement:
"While we agree with Senator McCaskill on the importance of next-generation connectivity for schools and libraries, we shouldn’t sacrifice the Lifeline program to achieve this goal. We must reform and improve both programs if we truly want to bring connectivity to everyone. Defunding Lifeline would entrench the technological divides that exist in our country. We reject the false choice between connecting schools and connecting low-income communities with essential communications services. Both objectives can — and must — be achieved."
To read the letter, go to: http://www.freepress.net/resource/104462/coalition-letter-sen-claire-mccaskill-lifeline.
