Radio, telephone and the Internet are communication technologies that have opened limitless possibilities around the world. While the technology is available for almost everyone, not everybody is able to afford the convenience, safety and connection these communication technologies provide. As we get older, telephones become critically important in order to communicate with family members, healthcare providers and emergency services.
A large percentage of the elderly are also on limited income, which sometimes makes it difficult to afford landline and wireless phone service. A group of 31 organizations wrote a letter urging the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee to continue supporting the wireless Lifeline program, which makes it affordable for seniors, the disabled and those with low income to have telephone service.
The Lifeline program started in 1985 for landline telephones and in 2005 wireless services was added. It is part of the Universal Service Fund (USF) and it is available in every state, territory, commonwealth and on tribal land. In order to qualify for the program, the income of the individual or family has to be at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines or be part of a qualifying assistance program. The USF annual expenditure is $9 billion, but the Lifeline program accounts for less than 20 percent of the budget.
These types of programs are intended to help those who really need the subsidy, but they are often abused resulting in hearings to determine if it should be continued or eliminated. As is often the case with government programs, there is no happy medium, and the 31 organizations, which include the Consumer Federation of America, NAACP, National Organization for Women, the American Association of People with Disabilities, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and others, are asking the committee to keep the program going. They are suggesting to the committee to give the reforms the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has implemented in January of 2012 a chance to work.
The budget deficit is one of the reasons many programs are being scrutinized for their effectiveness, but this is one program that can worsen the budget even more by increasing the inefficiency of healthcare, emergency services and employment opportunities if it is cancelled.
According to the groups, "We recognize that our nation is facing tough budgetary times. However, cutting or even eliminating the wireless Lifeline program will not reduce the federal deficit by one penny. The program is funded by contributions from telecommunications companies, which may elect to share the costs of those contributions with their subscribers. Far from imposing a burden on taxpayers, wireless Lifeline has been proven to help low-income people find and keep jobs, ultimately reducing spending on public assistance programs."
An important fact to remember about Lifeline is it is not federally funded. It is funded by telecommunications companies and not tax dollars; so eliminating the program will not reduce the deficit.
Edited by
Rachel Ramsey
