{"bills":[{"photos":{"featured":"https://assets.countable.us/bill/photo/hr5525-114/featured_end-taxpayer-funded-cell-phones-act-of-2016-1466553901.jpg","featured_large":"https://assets.countable.us/bill/photo/hr5525-114/featured_large_end-taxpayer-funded-cell-phones-act-of-2016-1466553901.jpg","shareable":"https://n.countable.us/share-images/bills/hr5525-114.png"},"introduced_on":"2016-06-16","title_override":"Should the Government Stop Providing Low Income Americans With Cell Phone and Internet Subsidies?","summary_override":"

Since 1985, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has operated the Lifelines program to provide subsidized phone service to low-income Americans. In 2005, the program expanded to cover basic voice-only mobile phone plans, and in March 2016, the FCC voted to expand the program to include internet service (including mobile data).

This bill seeks to remove wireless voice and data services from the list of eligible Lifelines services. Sponsoring Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA) argues that the program is already too expensive and that the FCC does not do a sufficient job preventing fraud and misuse.

The FCC, however, believes cell phone and internet access are modern-day necessities that help people pursue education, access services, and maintain connections with friends and families. According to a press release from the FCC announcing the program expansion, 43 percent of America’s lowest income households cannot afford broadband. This gap in access can contribute to greater income inequality.

","official_title":"To prohibit universal service support of commercial mobile service and commercial mobile data service through the Lifeline program.","short_title":"End Taxpayer Funded Cell Phones Act of 2016","popular_title":null,"short_summary":"End Taxpayer Funded Cell Phones Act of 2016\n\nThis bill prohibits a provider of commercial mobile service or commercial mobile data service from receiving universal service support under the Communications Act of 1934 through the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) Lifeline program, which provides subsidies for discounts on monthly telephone or broadband service (e.g., Internet service on mobile phones) to qualifying low-income consumers.\n\nThe FCC must continue to collect universal service contributions from telecommunications carriers through 2017 based on mobile service support provided in 2016 despite the bill's prohibition on Lifeline universal service support for mobile services. But the amounts collected for mobile services must be deposited in the Treasury for deficit reduction instead of being distributed for universal service support.","summarized":true,"cost":null,"cost_commentary":"","impact":"The FCC, People who participate in the Lifelines program or may in the future, Taxpayers","argument_for":"The simplest way to stamp out fraud in the Lifelines program is to remove cell phones and wireless broadband from the list of eligible services. Americans should not be forced to pay tax dollars to subsidize fraud.","argument_against":"Fraud in the Lifelines program should be investigated, but cell phone and internet subsidies should not be stripped from struggling Americans. 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Should the Government Stop Providing Low Income Americans With Cell Phone and Internet Subsidies?