On August 31, COMPTEL filed its comments with the FCC regarding the its Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to modernize the Lifeline program.

COMPTEL CEO Chip Pickering applauded the FCC's efforts to update the Lifeline program to better serve low income Americans living in the digital age, saying that "job seeking without broadband access is like trying to breathe without lungs. The central goal of the Lifeline program - providing communications services to low-income Americans - has not changed since the program began. However, in order for the program to continue to meet this goal, it must evolve to the changes that have taken place in America's technological, education and employment environment."

He noted that the Lifeline program should take into account that consumers do not only need voice support, but they also need broadband support. The "homework gap" underscores how lack

of broadband access disadvantages students from low-income households.

"In addition to reforming the Lifeline program so that that low-income consumers are not excluded from the benefits of broadband and voice services," he said, "the FCC should reform the program so that competitive communications service providers are not excluded from the marketplace. Encouraging competition among communications service providers will ensure that the Lifeline program keeps a market driven sensibility and does not become antiquated but continuously responds to the changing needs of consumers."