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Bill would let New Hampshire PUC authorize mobile Lifeline service providers
Summary
House Bill 627 would allow the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission to designate wireless carriers to provide Lifeline discounts to eligible low‑income residents for phone and internet access.
House Bill 627 would give the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission authority to designate wireless carriers to offer federal Lifeline discounts in the state, enabling mobile carriers to provide subsidized phone and broadband services to eligible low‑income residents.
Representative Doug Thomas, introducing HB 627 for Representative Ose, said Lifeline "helps make communications services more affordable for low income consumers" and that the bill would let the PUC designate mobile carriers here, as 45 other states have done. Thomas said the current federal process has not expanded mobile designation since 2011 and argued the change would increase access to services such as telemedicine, online learning and 911.
Josh Elliott, director of the Division of Policy and Programs at the Department of Energy, said the department was neutral and summarized the bill as opening another pathway for carriers to obtain state-level designation rather than seeking FCC action. The Public Utilities Commission also filed neutral testimony and did not speak at the hearing.
Committee questions focused on eligibility verification and funding. Senators asked how providers determine low-income eligibility and whether the benefit is federally funded; the sponsor indicated those are federal program eligibility rules and that the bill mainly allows the PUC to provide a state pathway for designation.
Ending
The hearing concluded without executive action; the committee did not take votes during the session.
