The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) has announced updated minimum service standards for Lifeline-supported services and the budget for the Lifeline program for calendar year 2026. The WCB has announced that the mobile broadband minimum service standard will continue to be 4.5 GB per month until December 1, 2026. Beginning December 1, 2025, the Lifeline minimum service standard for fixed broadband data usage will be 1280 GB per month, as calculated from the 2025 Urban Rate Survey data. On December 1, 2025, the Lifeline minimum service standard for mobile voice service will remain unchanged, at 1,000 minutes per month. Additionally, the budget for federal universal service support for the Lifeline program for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2026 will be $2,976,503,538.
