"Millions of poor Americans will be eligible for federal subsidies to help pay the cost of Internet service after new regulations were approved in a whirlwind Federal Communications Commission (FCC) meeting on Thursday.
The FCC voted to expand its 30-year-old Lifeline program, which has offered the monthly $9.25 subsidy for voice-only phone service.
The three Democratic commissioners approved the proposal over opposition from the two Republicans, who have concerns about the program's budget....One of the priorities was removing the burden on companies to determine whether a person is eligible for a subsidy.
Some said that structure encouraged abuse and put companies in the uncomfortable position of holding sensitive customer information, opening them up to extra security and liability.
"The fox is no longer guarding the henhouse," Wheeler said.
Lifeline currently has about 13 million subscribers, only a fraction of the 40 million who are eligible. The vote Thursday imposed a budget of $2.25 billion per year.
The funds come from fees imposed by the phone companies.
The FCC expects the overhaul to increase participation, and it has projected that about 7 million more people could enroll before hitting the budget ceiling..."
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