BROWSING: Lifeline

FCC Chairman: “It’s outrageous that a company would claim millions of taxpayer dollars for doing nothing." Sprint has allegedly received tens of millions of dollars in federal Lifeline subsidies for mobile phones which were inactive and should have been un-enrolled from the program, according to...

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai moves to reverse part of last year’s reform efforts, which included plans for broadband support to include LTE and 5G. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai said the government agency will look to move control over the federally subsidized...

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai recently called a halt to what were termed midnight regulations passed by his predecessor. Editor’s Note: The RCR Wireless News Reality Check section is where C-level executives and advisory firms from across the mobile industry share unique insights...

Story updated to clarify definition of payments FCC tags Blue Jay Wireless with $2M in settlement fees tied to improper billing under Lifeline Tribal lands initiative in Hawaii The Federal Communications Commission said it reached a $2 million settlement with Texas-based operator Blue Jay Wireless connected...

Story edited to clarify Sprint deal is not with T-Mobile US affiliate IWireless Sprint plans to merge its Assurance business with I-Wireless’ Access Wireless in a move to improve targeting of government’s Lifeline program Sprint is parsing out one of its several prepaid brands, announcing a...

Total Call accused of rampant abuse of FCC Lifeline program, including enrollment of duplicate and ineligible customers On the heels of adopting reforms to its government subsidized Lifeline telecom service, the Federal Communications Commission announced a record $51 million fine against one participant for over...

FCC Chairman Wheeler and Commissioner Clyburn circulate order to add subsidized broadband to Lifeline program The Federal Communications Commission this week moved on plans to add broadband connectivity to the government’s Lifeline program. The FCC said it was circulating an order, backed by FCC Chairman Tom...

President Obama: 'If we don’t get these young people the access to what they need to achieve their potential, then it’s our loss; it’s not just their loss' President Barak Obama joined the growing chorus of lawmakers who want it to be easier and cheaper...

FCC found TracFone violated device-unlocking rules for Lifeline customers TracFone Wireless ran afoul of the Federal Communications Commission’s device unlocking requirements tied to its Lifeline service offerings that could cost the prepaid provider more than $83 million. The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau found that TracFone violated FCC...

AT&T will pay $6.9 million to the Federal Communications Commission for over-billing a program designed to help low-income households pay their phone bills. An audit of AT&T revealed the carrier inaccurately billed the FCC after failing to remove customers who were no longer eligible for the...