FCC Moves to Fight Subscriber Fraud in Broadband Subsidy Program (1)

The Federal Communications Commission is weighing a crackdown on fraud in its phone and broadband subsidy program for low-income consumers.

Agency Chairman Ajit Pai circulated an order Aug. 19 that would ban telecom carriers from enrolling subscribers in the program unless they’re verified as being alive, an FCC official told reporters on a conference call.

Pai has long called for changes to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in the Lifeline program, which serves about 9 million subscribers.

Carriers could enroll subscribers if information in the National Verifier, a national database for determining Lifeline eligibility, proves they’re alive, or if the ...