Congresswoman Matsui Introduces Resolution Expressing Congressional Support for National Lifeline Awareness Week
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
CONTACT: JONELLE TRIMMER
(202) 225-7163
Congresswoman Matsui Introduces Resolution Expressing Congressional Support for National Lifeline Awareness Week
National Lifeline Awareness Week runs from September 9-13
Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-06), a member of the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, introduced a resolution expressing the support of Congress for National Telephone Discount Lifeline Awareness Week. National Lifeline Awareness Week, which this year runs from September 9-13, is an initiative designed to raise awareness of Lifeline and responsibly promote subscribership in the Lifeline program by eligible low-income consumers.
"To be successful in today's global economy, it is essential for all Americans to be connected to the innovative economy. The Lifeline program ensures that low-income Americans, the most vulnerable among us, have access to the critical connections and security that phone service provides," said Congresswoman Matsui. "Whether for staying in touch with family, being accessible to an employer, or contacting a local hospital or the police, Lifeline is essential for the millions of Americans enrolled in the program. This Resolution would raise awareness of the program, commend the FCC for efforts to improve its efficiency, and lend support to efforts to modernize the program to include access to broadband services."
The Lifeline program is a joint effort between the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the state public utility commissions to make basic telephone service more affordable for the nation's low-income consumers by providing a discount on the connection fee and monthly recurring charge. In recent years, the FCC has reformed the Lifeline program to improve program efficiency and combat waste, fraud, and abuse to ensure that only eligible low-income consumers are receiving the support.
Congresswoman Matsui has long been a supporter of the Lifeline program, and of expanding the program to include access to broadband services. This Congress she introduced H.R. 1685, the Broadband Adoption Act of 2013, which directs the FCC to establish a broadband Lifeline Assistance program that provides low-income Americans living in rural and urban areas with assistance in subscribing to affordable broadband service.
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