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Hundreds of school and community leaders ask FCC to include high-speed internet in free government cell phone program

November 7, 2015

Is the Federal Communications Commission feeling the heat? Will the government watchdog finally give in and include high-speed broadband internet in the Lifeline Assistance free government cell phone program? It will if it listens to the voices of hundreds of America’s community leaders.

Almost 200 school district superintendents joined leaders of more than 140 other religious, civil rights, and technology groups in a campaign to pressure FCC commissioners to make changes to the popular program that currently provides free cell phones, voice calls and texts to low-income Americans. The community leaders believe high-speed broadband internet service should also be part of the program.

They make a clear, compelling argument in their letters, which were written in response to an FCC invitation for public comments on its proposal to fund high-speed broadband service with the same subsidy that covers free government cell phones.

“Much of the advantage of education technology lies in student access to information and education tools outside of the classroom,” the superintendents stated in their letter. “Sadly, many students do not have broadband access at home and cannot complete assignments and supplement their learning outside school. If the nation wants to produce globally competitive graduates with twenty-first-century skills and competencies, this ‘homework gap’ must be addressed.”

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel voted in favor of adding broadband service to the Lifeline program. Rosenworcel spoke in favor of the proposed changes and described what she called the “homework gap” as “the cruelest part of our new digital divide”. The Digital Divide describes the gap between internet usage among America’s rich and it’s poor.

Two unrelated community organizations organized and lead the effort to apply pressure to the FCC commissioners — the Alliance for Excellent Education and the Leading Education by Advancing Digital (LEAD) Commission. Both organizations describe themselves as “digital-learning advocacy groups”.

If you get the sense that this movement is gaining momentum, you are correct. Because the school chiefs were not alone in applying pressure to the FCC. Other groups — including the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Common Sense Kids Action, and the National Association of Social Workers — also sent letters urging action by the FCC commissioners.

Wade Henderson, President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued a press release that said, in part, “The Internet can play a crucial role in moving people out of poverty. And yet, cost remains a critical barrier to internet access for millions of Americans. By modernizing the Lifeline program, the FCC can bridge this digital divide, and help millions of low-income Americans afford the broadband service they need to succeed in our digital age.”

We have long advocated expansion of the Lifeline Assistance program. Cell phones are vital tools to help disadvantaged Americans climb out of poverty, but high-speed internet service is, perhaps, even more important. We sincerely hope the Federal Communications Commission does whatever is necessary to speed up the approval process to bring this new service to millions of needy Americans as quickly as possible.

Source EdWeek

Tagged as: FCC, internet

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Comments

  1. Gensie wofford says

    January 30, 2016 at 1:06 pm

    I need a the best fee phone with 500 free monthly minutes on it

    Reply
  2. Latasha hicks says

    November 17, 2015 at 8:21 am

    Hey my Name Is Latasha hicks And I Well love to work for you….

    Reply
  3. dena Westmoreland says

    November 14, 2015 at 5:21 pm

    Ssi low income where can i find the free smartphone with interest

    Reply
  4. Lucille Muller says

    November 11, 2015 at 11:52 am

    When broadband and high speed Internet is available on free government cell phones please email me. Thank you.

    Reply
  5. H. Prada says

    November 9, 2015 at 6:00 am

    Broadband access should be made available to the disadvantaged.

    Reply
  6. Cecelia Thessen says

    November 8, 2015 at 4:17 pm

    I believe that all government phones should have the internet because not only students need the internet but, people who want to get off of government programs could look for a job that way.

    Reply
  7. chandravadan says

    November 8, 2015 at 10:01 am

    I am getting snap,now I need free govt phone.thanks=========chandravadan lotwala

    Reply
  8. Kenny says

    November 8, 2015 at 8:57 am

    I’m not in school, but 61 with a fairly severe mobile handicap since near birth (Polio victim affecting 1 leg

    Down here in Fl, the government has chosen not to take care of their aging handicapped with programs that should be/are available…just keep getting the runaround. I think they are waiting for us to hurt ourselves and be hospitalized or worse yet, end up up dead before they will budge (the dead part would certainly solve the problem for them.) Horrible treatment/mistreatment

    Point being, I have the lifeline service and there have been times when I just couldn’t get help with getting groceries, as in transportation (we don’t even have cabs in my little town) as well as physical help. Had I had internet with the phone, I could have at least ordered staples from Walmart and have it brought right to my door. I would have been thrilled with that. Not a perfect solution but there have been times when that would not only have gotten me fed but helped with the extreme worry of how I’m going to deal with getting food.

    So, I say, bring it on, there are several ways this benefit could help some of us.

    Reply
    • KM says

      November 8, 2015 at 2:06 pm

      I live in the panhandle and Comcast offers the internet program… if you have any of the obvious programs, are not a customer, no unpaid comcast bills or unreturned equipment… you’re approved. No deposit. No shipping fee. No bill (been a month still not a bill due) and as low as approx $12/mo. Not a scam or joke. Note… I almost paid a deposit and signed up for the regular comcast… if I had done it instead of asking to be transferred to that programs phone… I would have never been able to get it!! Hope it helps.

      Reply
      • KM says

        November 8, 2015 at 2:17 pm

        Im so sorry CENTURYLINK not comcast. Whoops… sorry

        Reply
    • Steve says

      November 8, 2015 at 6:27 pm

      Just two problems I find with your comment.
      1. Walmart but no cab’s/taxi’s – no neighbors, family, friends?
      2. How are you posting your comment – internet from somewhere,
      if the library how you’d get there?

      Reply
      • Kenny says

        November 10, 2015 at 1:51 pm

        “Just two problems I find with your comment.”

        Two problems?

        I have just one problem with your comment, you probably should learn to pay better attention. That said, go back… reread and pay special attention to these words and do your best to try to figure out what they mean.

        “there have been times”

        If you still have trouble, let me know and I’ll try to help.

        Thanks for calling me a liar…now I have to wonder if you don’t work for the State as some of them seem a little slow as well. 🙂

        Reply
      • Kenny S says

        November 10, 2015 at 6:48 pm

        OK, lets try the edited edition. 🙂

        “Just two problems I find with your comment.”

        I have just one problem with your comment, you probably should pay better attention. That said, go back… reread and pay special attention to these words:

        “there have been times”

        As for the neighbors…which one? the guy who poisoned my cat or the one on the other side with the big rebel flag hanging off his pickem up truck?

        See, the lack of chioces of neighborhoods/neighbors, the poor have to live in are often limited. Also, I’m surprised that you can’t see we just shouldn’t have to depend on neighbors to begin with to get food, I mean what happens if that falls through?…If that were a viable option, maybe they should drop my disability altogether and I should depend on the neighbors, see, it just doesn’t work that way, nor will it work that way.

        Also, I don’t like airing this stuff out here anymore than you like hearing it, matter of fact, I resent the heck out of having to put my personal issues out there, but when they won’t listen any other way…we do what we must.

        Reply
      • Kenny says

        November 11, 2015 at 12:13 pm

        “Just two problems I find with your comment.
        1. Walmart but no cab’s/taxi’s – no neighbors, family, friends?”

        Yes, Walmart but no taxi’s. I live in a small town with no cab service and the next town over is a bit larger, they have a Walmart, but still no cab service. Not such a stretch, so I have to wonder what your real motive is here.

        Seems to me you are just wanting to find problems with my comments, as you didn’t seem to think things through before you posted…no cabs just aren’t that far fetched.

        I answered some of your other comments but one post isn’t showing up and my original answer is still awaiting approval so not sure if I should repeat.

        Anyway, with such small minded, poorly thought out accusations, I have to assume my having a tough time offends you, or maybe it’s just that you’d rather not believe me or come to the realization out gov is what it is, and that such things go on…

        I’d rather not believe it ether., but unfortunately…

        Reply
        • Steve says

          November 12, 2015 at 8:32 pm

          @ K

          1. Put some sugar on it !.
          2. Have a sweet day !.

          Why flame allover the place :>]

          Reply
          • Kenny says

            November 16, 2015 at 8:56 pm

            “1. Put some sugar on it !.
            2. Have a sweet day !.”

            Sorry, guess I misjudged you… thought you might actually be capable of coherent conversation

            “Why flame allover the place :>]”

            You have to ask why one should speak out against that type treatment?

          • Steve says

            November 18, 2015 at 4:47 pm

            @ K / Nov. 16-2015

            Your original statement of-
            “”Down here in Fl, the government has chosen not to take care of their aging handicapped with programs that should be/are available.

            Point being, I have the lifeline service and there have been times when I just couldn’t get help with getting groceries, as in transportation (we don’t even have cabs in my little town) as well as physical help. Had I had internet with the phone, I could have at least ordered staples from Walmart and have it brought right to my door. I would have been thrilled with that. Not a perfect solution but there have been times when that would not only have gotten me fed but helped with the extreme worry of how I’m going to deal with getting food.””

            THEN My Comment-
            “”Just two problems I find with your comment.
            1. Walmart but no cab’s/taxi’s – no neighbors, family, friends?
            2. How are you posting your comment – internet from somewhere,
            if the library how you’d get there?””

            (K) you used the word LIER – I never did !
            I never attacked you, never flamed on you, never
            made it personal. You did all of that to me though.

            The main drift I got – in the year 2015 how can this be.
            If the town has no community center or a structured support system in place and you have no friends or relatives along with no public transportation there – why do you still live there and not move to the town that Walmart is in or a different Town or State altogether.

            This would be one (1) way in you helping with your own situation. When “there have been times” is/becomes a constant and persistent one for you to deal with in the community.

            This will be my last response to you K, and you needn’t write back to me here, as you should use yourself and what ever resources available you have to better your situation and your time better spent with it in doing so.

            I wish you all the best and will hope and pray for you.
            Thank you, Steve

Previous Post: Consumer Reports says free government cell phone program still bloated by abuse
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