The FCC recently announced that it was going to introduce a $1.7bn plan previously known as Lifeline in order to benefit low-income subscribers.

The Federal Communications Commission admitted it was seeking to reboot Lifeline, which was used for landline plans, for the Internet age. The authority can’t deny that the worldwide web is key to Lifeline’s future, as it is essential to find a job: indeed, according to statistics, over 80% of Fortune 500 job openings are published on the Internet. Moreover, the US citizens also need Internet to keep a job, because companies increasingly require digital literacy skills. Finally, people all over the world rely on the Internet to manage and receive healthcare, and even to educate. Three years ago, it was estimated that broadband helped a typical American consumer save $8,800 annually thanks to online access to bargains on goods and services.

The problem is that about 30% of the US citizens still haven’t adopted broadband at home, and the FCC points out that low-income consumers increasingly lack access. Statistics speaks for itself: while over 95% of households with incomes over $150,000 have access to the Internet, only less than half of people that earn less than $25,000 have it. The FCC explained that the Lifeline’s expansion would allow Internet users who qualify for the program to spend $9.25 subsidy on the broadband or phone.

This is not the first novelty the Federal Communications Commission has announced in 2015. The industry observers remind that about 3 months ago, the authority answered pleas to favor “net neutrality” and declared ISPs common carriers, just like telephone companies.