On July 7, 2023, the Wireline Competition Bureau (“Bureau”), on its own motion, released an Order extending its waiver of the implementation of the phase-out in Lifeline support for voice-only services and the increase in the Lifeline minimum service standards for mobile broadband data capacity for one additional year, until December 1, 2024. This decision stems from the Bureau’s consideration of the Affordable Connectivity Program’s (“ACP”) impact on Lifeline subscribers and the affordable broadband market more broadly, as well as from the recognition of the continued reliance on voice-only services among a subset of Lifeline subscribers.
As you may recall, the 2016 Lifeline Order contemplated a complete phase-out of Lifeline support for voice-only services on December 1, 2021, as well as adopted provisions governing increases to the mobile broadband data capacity minimum service standards – both of which have previously been paused by the Bureau and were set to expire December 1, 2023, absent further action from the Bureau.
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