AT&T Cancels Discounts on Lifeline Phone Services for Cheap Home Phone Service Users

AT&T Lifeline Phone Service

 

These times do not seem favor AT&T low income phone service subscribers. They are receiving a financial blow from AT&T. The MPSC (Missouri Public Service Commission) has allowed AT&T to cancel discounts given to poor and disabled customers on lifeline phone services.

AT&T has Given a Reason

AT&T filed its response in this regard to the Missouri Public Service Commission and stated a reason for this decision. According to the company, no more than 6900 low income phone service subscribers are receiving discounted life line phone services. The number of such users has come down by almost 85% since 2008. It appears as if low income phone service subscribers are also switching to wireless phone services. They no longer seem to be interested in discounted lifeline phone services on their wire-line.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noticed more than 59% of cheap home phone service subscribers reside in wireless only households. CDCP had confirmed the fact in 2015. This is possibly why AT&T seems to have made this decision.

The Office of Public Counsel Is Not Happy With This:

The office of Public Counsel responsible for taking care of the public’s interest argued against this decision by AT&T before the Public Service Commission. In accordance with the Acting Public Counsel, Mr. James Owen, “We heard from people who still use it and were asking us to stop” it.

Acting Public Counsel James Owen is Mainly Concerned About Old and Handicapped People:

This is true. He expressed it openly and said that they may find using a cellphone difficult or confusing. This can make life difficult for them to get connected with their near and dear ones or emergency services as cellular phone services in some rural areas can be problematic.

Mr. Owen Lost the Argument Because…

AT&T did everything right from the factual point of view and used the law accordingly. The company said that the discounts on lifeline phone services are being provided by some wireless phone service providers throughout its area. Therefore, anyone losing the lifeline discount on their AT&T home phone can get a Lifeline discount for cellular phone services.

This is Exactly Where AT&T Won the Argument:

According to the federal rules, any low income phone service provider can drop its own lifeline service if some other carrier is providing it to users. This left the Public Service Commission with no choice but to rule the argument in the favor of AT&T and allow the service provider to cancel the discount on lifeline phone service to cheap home phone service users.

Some Final Words

It is a tough blow to the poor families using discounted landline services of AT&T in rural areas. Hopefully, it does not make their life difficult and they find it easy to switch to wireless services and get the same kind of discount. It will be too early to predict the impact of this service on poor families residing in rural areas. Therefore, only the time will tell after the company stops providing the discount on lifeline services in July 2017.

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