Broadband "Lifeline" withdrawn: The FCC is stopping nine companies from providing federally subsidized Internet to the poor

Colleagues,

This February 3rd Washington Post article may be of interest.  According to the article, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is stopping nine companies from providing federally-subsidized Internet services to the poor. The article suggests that this could also signal broader restrictions for the program known as Lifeline. There is a National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) webinar planned for February 21st on Lifeline broadband service that may offer more information about this. https://zoom.us/j/4320943209 No registration is required for the webinar.

Will this eventually also mean that the government-sponsored Everyone On program that currently provides reduced-cost computers and Internet access for low-income families, and adult learners and teachers, will also be curtailed? According to the Washington Post article, the new Chairman of the FCC, Ajit Pai, has said that closing the digital divide is central to his policy agenda, so perhaps not. We will see.

If members of this CoP have more news about the cancellation of the federally-subsidized Lifeline Broadband Internet program, news about Everyone On services, or about other programs that have made computers and broadband service more widely available to low-income families and adult learners, please let us know, especially as these decisions could affect adult learners' -- and their families' -- access to the Internet for educational purposes.

David J. Rosen, Moderator

Technology and Learning, and Program Management CoPs

djrosen123@gmail.com