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FCC
Chairman Tom Wheeler will roll out a plan on Thursday to his
commissioners suggesting major changes to a $1.7 billion subsidy
program, the newspaper cited senior officials as saying.
Wheeler will propose potentially giving recipients a choice of
phone service, Internet service or a mix of both, the officials
said.
The subsidy program, Lifeline, is funded through fees paid by
landline and cellphone customers.
"Lifeline helps ensure that all Americans can afford phone
service, providing connections to jobs, family and 911," Wheeler
said last year.
Wheeler will also suggest new measures to curb fraud, the
newspaper said.
Lifeline has been a subject of controversy in recent years,
after instances of abuse. Three men were indicted on charges of
defrauding the subsidy program last year.
While the plan proposed by Wheeler is likely to win the support
of the FCC's Democratic majority in a vote next month, it is
almost certain to set off fierce debate in Washington, the
newspaper said.
The FCC could not immediately be reached for comment outside
regular business hours.
(Reporting by Zara Mascarenhas in Bengaluru; Editing by Anupama
Dwivedi)
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