Consumer Groups Support Lifeline Provider, Tribal Group Request for FCC Stay of Tribal Limits
Consumer groups and others backed a request that the FCC stay tribal restrictions in the Lifeline low-income subsidy program, pending judicial review of their legal challenges to an order released Dec. 1. "This is a reasonable and modest request to…
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temporarily delay the implementation of the drastic changes to the Tribal Lifeline program until the conclusion of the review sought by Joint Petitioners in the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit," said the Benton Foundation, Common Cause, Free Press, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, NAACP, National Consumer Law Center, National Hispanic Media Coalition, Native Public Media, Next Century Cities, Public Knowledge and six others, filing Tuesday in docket 17-287 supporting the petition of Lifeline providers and tribal group (see 1806250032). "Residents of Tribal lands are at risk of consumer confusion, at best, and loss of phone and broadband service, at worst, if the Commission’s ... [tribal Lifeline order] were to take effect while the court appeal is pending. We are further concerned that the Commission failed in its obligation to engage in government-to-government Tribal consultations with regard to this proposal that will have such a dramatic impact on Indian country, per the Commission’s own long-established procedure."