Lifeline Services

The Lifeline Program provides a monthly benefit to reduce or eliminate the cost of one communications service for qualified households.

The Lifeline Program provides a monthly discount on one communications service from a certified Lifeline service provider.  Currently, Lifeline subscribers have the choice—where available—of applying their benefit discount to one of the following types of service offerings:

• Home or wireless phone service; or
• Home internet or a wireless phone data plan.

Some Lifeline service providers may offer a bundled package of home or wireless phone service with internet access.

To learn how to apply for a discounted communications service through the Lifeline Program, please click here.

Minimum Service Standards

The Federal Communications Commission has established minimum service standards to make sure supported services keep pace with the ever-changing digital landscape.  These service standards will be evaluated each year to ensure the continued support of robust and meaningful internet connectivity.

The chart below outlines the minimum service standards:

Mobile Voice	Mobile Internet (Data Plan)	Home Internet
Usage Allowance: 1,000 Minutes	Usage Allowance: 4.5 GB  Speed: 3G	Usage Allowance: 1280 GB  Speed: 25/3 Mbps

Please note: the minimum service standard ONLY applies to the discounted communications service.

On July 3, 2024, the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau paused the phase-out of Lifeline support for voice-only services for an additional year. As such, the basic Lifeline support of $5.25 remains available to eligible consumers who subscribe to voice-only service until at least December 1, 2025.  The Bureau also paused the Lifeline minimum service standard for mobile broadband data capacity for an additional year. As such, the minimum service standard for mobile broadband data capacity will remain at 4.5 GB per month until at least December 1, 2025.