Federal Register #2026-06531

FCC Seeks Comment on Lifeline and Link Up Program Reforms for Low-Income Telecommunications Services

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking public comment on proposed reforms to the Lifeline and Link Up programs, which provide discounted telecommunications services to eligible low-income Americans. - Government Buyer: - Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - OEMs and Vendors: - No specific OEMs or commercial vendors are named; the FCC is the regulatory authority - Products/Services Requested: - Consulting and input on reforms to the Lifeline and Link Up programs - Provision of discounted broadband and voice telecommunications services to qualifying low-income consumers - Focus on enhanced identity verification (potentially requiring full SSNs), stricter consumer consent for enrollment and transfers, updated minimum service standards for broadband and voice, and improved program integrity for Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETCs) - Unique or Notable Requirements: - Enhanced eligibility verification and lawful status checks - Prevention of duplicative support and measures to reduce fraud and abuse - Streamlined reporting and compliance requirements for service providers - Seeks public input on all proposed changes - Place of Performance and Key Locations: - FCC Headquarters, Washington, DC - FAA Airworthiness Products Section, Des Moines, WA (referenced in attachments) - FCC Mailing Contractor, Annapolis Junction, MD

Description

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposes reforms to the Lifeline and Link Up programs to ensure that services benefit eligible low-income Americans and protect program funding from waste, fraud, and abuse. The rulemaking seeks to update and streamline related rules, enhance identity verification and lawful status checks, improve consumer consent processes during enrollment and transfers, and reconsider minimum service standards. Comments are due by May 4, 2026, with reply comments due by June 2, 2026.

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