For Immediate Release: July 12, 2016 Contact: Christina DiPasquale, 202.716.1953, press@balestramedia.com
National Hispanic Media Coalition on Debunked Claims Against Lifeline Program
Accusations of Fraud from House Conservatives Based on Bad Data, Faulty Assumptions of Multi-Household Addresses, Including Residents of Veteran Group Homes, Nursing Homes and Homeless Shelters
Today, Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone released an investigation that dismantled the core arguments of fraud brought by House conservatives against the Federal Communication Commission’s Lifeline program, which has provided discounted and no-charge phone service to millions of low-income Americans to make emergency calls, apply for jobs, learn and stay connected. The report found that claims by detractors erroneously assumed that nearly every Lifeline application received from a multi-household address—including veteran group homes, nursing homes, and homeless shelters—was fraudulent. Said Jessica González, executive vice president and general counsel at the National Hispanic Media Coalition: “This perpetual criminalization of the poor must come to an end and we have to ensure that no needy family is turned away from the essential services provided to them by the Lifeline program. The fact is that you can’t do much without a phone—you are unable to place emergency calls in times of crisis and you can’t get that call back for a job—things that people with phone service can often take for granted but are still major problems for many Americans. “Now that Lifeline provides the option of home broadband, instead of phone service, it has the potential to usher in even more economic mobility, where anyone can search online to find employment, health care and educational resources. Economic progress and educational opportunity are bipartisan and it’s high time that politicians work across the aisle to maintain and continually improve the Lifeline program that has worked for three decades as the only government program dedicated to bringing phone and internet service within reach for people of color, the poor, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and the less educated. “Phone and internet services are tools we need to thrive in the 21st century and connecting more people to them is of the utmost importance. Investing in the future of our communities and our next generation of leaders is something we should all support.” Learn more about the importance of the Lifeline program here: https://www.nhmc.org/###
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