Dear Association Executives - Following up on a discussion from today's Association Executives weekly call, below please find a response from the FCC on limits on minutes for Lifeline providers.
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From: Evan Swarztrauber <Evan.Swarztrauber@fcc.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2020 6:03 PM
To: Reyna Taylor
Subject: RE: COVID-19 Increase in minutes needed
Reyna,
Thanks so much for reaching out. I checked on this and there is no FCC rule preventing a Lifeline provider like TRAC phone from 1) increasing minute limits or offering unlimited minutes or 2) "zero-rating" mental health-related calls, i.e. ensuring that those calls would not count against the monthly minute limit.
The FCC generally has been encouraging telecom providers to go above and beyond the "Keep Americans Connected Pledge," and many have done so. Here's more info on those offerings: https://www.fcc.gov/keep-americans-connected/above-and-beyond
And here you can find everything we've done thus far to respond to COVID19: https://www.fcc.gov/keep-americans-connected
Evan Swarztrauber
Policy Advisor
Office of Chairman Ajit Pai
Federal Communications Commission
(202) 418-2261 (o)
(202) 870-8405 (m)
Twitter: @EvanS_FCC
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Reyna Taylor
Vice President, Public Policy
National Council for Behavioral Health
Direct: 202-774-1651
ReynaT@thenationalcouncil.org
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Reyna Taylor
Vice President, Public Policy
National Council for Behavioral Health
Direct: 202-774-1651
ReynaT@thenationalcouncil.org------------------------------