FCC Announces New Lifeline Minimum Service Standards & 2022 Lifeline Budget
July 30, 2021 – The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau has announced updated minimum standards for Lifeline-supported mobile and fixed broadband services.[1]
The following Lifeline minimum service standards will take effect on December 1, 2021, absent any further FCC action:
Mobile Broadband Minimum Service Standard – Beginning December 1, 2021, the Lifeline minimum service standard for mobile broadband data capacity will increase to 18 GB per month.
Mobile Voice Telephony Minimum Service Standard – On December 1, 2021, the Lifeline minimum service standard for mobile voice service will remain unchanged, at 1000 minutes per month.
Fixed Broadband Minimum Service Standard For Data Usage Allowance – Beginning December 1, 2021, the Lifeline minimum service standard for fixed broadband data usage will be 1229 GB per month, as calculated from the 2021 Urban Rate Survey data.
Annual Lifeline Program Budget – The Bureau has announced that the federal universal service support budget for the Lifeline program for calendar year 2022 will be $2,457,366,093.
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[1] Wireline Competition Bureau Announces Updated Lifeline Minimum Service Standards And Indexed Budget Amount, WC Docket No. 11-42, Public Notice, DA 21-930 (July 30, 2021), https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-21-930A1.pdf.
