They have the power.
The Federal Communications Commission got such a thrill out of passing strong net neutrality rules that it's now flexing some more muscle to do a really good thing. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler
is set to propose subsidized broadband coverage for the poor, and extension of the FCC's Lifeline program that provides phone service subsidies.
Lifeline currently pays carriers to reduce the cost of phone service by $9.25 a month for low-income households. Funded by a universal service fee on consumer phone bills, it's drawn criticism over cases of fraud and misuse—with conservatives dubbing it Obamaphone even though the program dates back to the Reagan administration.
But the agency's Democratic majority wants to broaden the program to pay for Internet service to give more people access to broadband and close the nation's "digital divide." Chairman Tom Wheeler plans to circulate his proposal to the other commissioners on Thursday so they can vote on it at the agency's June 18 meeting.
The expansion plan is not sitting well with some GOP opponents of Lifeline who want to kill the program entirely.
"Even after a GAO report questioned the effectiveness of Lifeline and the FCC's promises of 'sweeping reforms,' we continue to have regular reports of fraud and abuse," said Sen. David Vitter (R-La.). "The free government cell phone program is beyond reform and should be ended."
What Vitter is not saying is that the fraud and abuse is largely coming from the telecoms—in the Lifeline cellphone program, they're the ones deciding who qualifies for the subsidies. That's one of the things FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn wants to change with this program. She wants to change it so that people who are eligible for food stamps or free school lunches automatically qualify for Lifeline. The determination of eligibility would be in the hands of people whose job is to do that, not with the companies.
That won't calm down Republican critics, though. That's because they fundamentally believe poor people shouldn't have nice things, like basic utilities that help them communicate in emergencies, conduct personal business, or do things like search and apply for jobs. Never mind that St. Ronnie believed they should have that access—that's one of those things Reagan did that current Republicans have amnesia about.