FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn wants rural telcos to participate in...
FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn wants rural telcos to participate in a broadband adoption pilot program, she said at the OPASTCO conference Wednesday. The pilot program is the next step in updating the Universal Service Fund Lifeline program for low-income consumers,…
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she said. Participation of OPASTCO members is “crucial because the low-income needs in rural America are very different than those in urban America,” Clyburn said. Clyburn suggested the companies work together: “I encourage you individually and as an organization, to collaborate with one another, as I understand that planning and executing a pilot may be resource-intensive. In fact, if sharing your resources and expertise in this endeavor is preferred, a consortium approach to the pilot may be the most effective and efficient way for you to proceed.” While the pilot program will focus on service costs, it should also address equipment costs and digital literacy, Clyburn said: “We need to tackle all of the obstacles that keep consumers from purchasing broadband service.” Serving rural areas “means not only high-cost areas,” but also low-income consumers, Clyburn said. “If we don’t address the cost of accessing the network for those consumers, then not only are we leaving them behind, we are not reaping the full rewards and value of our total investments in the networks.” The FCC plans to vote on a Lifeline order at its Jan. 31 meeting.