Seattle Technology Board Endorses Lifeline Modernization

The Community Technology Advisory Board for Seattle endorses the proposed modernization of the Lifeline program with conditions, said a letter from the board in response to the FCC public notice: Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization, in docket 11-42. Despite agreeing with the addition of the coverage of broadband under the program, the board believes there should be one Lifeline broadband subsidy and one Lifeline phone subsidy per household, not one or the other, it said. It also recommended that voicemail, call waiting, national long distance, at least 250 text messages each month, 500 minutes of calling, and low-cost data plans be included in all Lifeline plans.