{"id":45070,"date":"2018-06-08T15:06:40","date_gmt":"2018-06-08T15:06:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/06\/08\/this-program-helps-13-million-vets-stay-connected-the-fcc-wants-to-gut-it\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T07:56:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T07:56:23","slug":"this-program-helps-13-million-vets-stay-connected-the-fcc-wants-to-gut-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/opinion\/commentary\/2018\/06\/08\/this-program-helps-13-million-vets-stay-connected-the-fcc-wants-to-gut-it\/","title":{"rendered":"This program helps 1.3 million vets stay connected. The FCC wants to gut it"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Editor\u2019s note: The following is an opinion piece. The writer is not employed by Military Times and the views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Military Times or its editorial staff.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We owe thanks to those who have honored our nation with service in the military. They have made sacrifices at home, with their families and on the battlefield. But more than gratitude, we owe those who wore the uniform policies that ensure that when they return to civilian life, opportunities await.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, by this measure, the Federal Communications Commission is coming up short. Last year, the agency unveiled a plan to make cuts to Lifeline, a program that helps 1.3 million veterans afford telephone and broadband service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is not right. To understand why, let\u2019s back up to 1985.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s when the Lifeline program got its start. President Ronald Reagan was sworn in for a second term. Telephones required a cord and a jack in the wall. To ensure everyone had the ability to make and receive calls for job opportunities, health care, and help in an emergency, the FCC set up a program to support the cost of communications service for low-income households.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many years, the Lifeline program operated without substantial changes. Then, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the FCC modernized it to reflect the growth of wireless calling. As a result, the program now offers households with a choice of either wired or wireless service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later, at the urging of Sen. Richard Blumenthal<\/a>, the FCC expanded the program to cover veterans or their survivors who participate in the Veterans Pension. While nothing precluded veterans from participating in the Lifeline program before, this change was an effort to do more to help former service members and their families in need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fast forward to last year. That\u2019s when the FCC announced plans to slash the Lifeline program. Citing concerns about waste, it proposed cutting 70 percent of participants from the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\t