Diverse Coalition of More Than 140 Groups Support FCC’s Lifeline Modernization Proposal

WASHINGTON – A broad coalition of more than 140 religious, civil rights, seniors, disability, technology, and veterans groups, including groups that work directly with low-income communities, submitted a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler yesterday in support of the FCC’s proposal to modernize the Lifeline program by including a subsidy to defray the cost of broadband for low-income households.

Access to broadband is crucial to thriving in today’s economy. Broadband enables access to education, jobs, invaluable health information, and social services. While the Internet has revolutionized almost every sector of our lives, the digital divide persists and millions people still do not have Internet access. While 92 percent of households with incomes between $100,000 and $150,000 have broadband service, the adoption rate is only 47 percent for households with income below $25,000, 64 percent for African Americans, and 53 percent for Hispanics.

“Seven in 10 teachers assign homework that requires the Internet and yet 5 million households with children don’t have home access, leading to a ‘homework gap,’” wrote the coalition. “Obtaining a job without access to the kinds of training programs or education available online that can help jobseekers upgrade skills in the modern economy is a daunting proposition. And more than 80 percent of Fortune 500 companies, including companies like Wal-Mart and Target only accept job applications online.”

“The Internet can play a crucial role in moving people out of poverty. And yet, cost remains a critical barrier to internet access for millions of Americans,” said Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. “By modernizing the Lifeline program, the FCC can bridge this digital divide, and help millions of low-income Americans afford the broadband service they need to succeed in our digital age.”

Click here to read the letter and the full list of signers:

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

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