State officials pulled plans to limit internet and cell phone discounts for low-income Californians a day before the vote. It comes after months of objections from state legislators, providers, and community members.
Until March of this year, low-income families were able to leverage up to $75 a month in discounts from a combination of three subsidies. They could “stack” two federal subsidies and one California LifeLine subsidy to pay for phone and internet.
“This proposed decision would make critically needed broadband services for … low-income Californians harder to afford at a time when they are struggling from the harmful impacts of the pandemic and record inflation.”At the same time, California’s LifeLine program provided a $16.23 per month discount for low-income households.
The proposed rule would have permanently cut the amount of California LifeLine subsidies to $9.25 for a family that also receives federal support, giving them a maximum of $39.25 a month. Under current rules set by the commission, LifeLine plans have to offer unlimited voice and text as well as 6 gigabytes of data per month.Ashley Salas, an attorney for the consumer advocacy group The Utility Reform Network, doesn’t know why the commission withdrew the decision.
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