The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) has announced the newly calculated minimum speed and usage standards for Lifeline-supported fixed broadband service. The Bureau also reminds providers of the updated minimum service standards for mobile broadband and mobile voice service. These standards will take effect on December 1, 2017.
Fixed broadband: The Lifeline minimum service standard for fixed broadband speed will be 15 Mbps downstream and 2 Mbps upstream. The minimum service standard for fixed broadband data usage will be 250 GB per month.
Mobile broadband: The Lifeline minimum service standard for mobile broadband data usage will increase to 1 GB per month. The minimum service standard for mobile broadband speed remains 3G mobile technology.
Mobile voice: The Lifeline minimum service standard for mobile voice service will increase to 750 minutes per month.
The Bureau has also announced that the budget for federal universal service support for the Lifeline program will be $2,279,250,000 for calendar year 2018.
