Connecticut HB 5338: AN ACT CONCERNING THE DESIGNATION OF CERTAIN SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR PURPOSES OF THE FEDERAL LIFELINE SERVICE BENEFITS.

Bill Text

LCO 1919 1 of 2

General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5338
February Session, 2026 LCO No. 1919

Referred to Committee on ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY

Introduced by:
(ET)

AN ACT CONCERNING THE DESIGNATION OF CERTAIN SERVICE
PROVIDERS FOR PURPOSES OF THE FEDERAL LIFELINE SERVICE
BENEFITS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 16-247e of the general statutes is 1
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2
1, 2026): 3
(a) [In order to] To ensure the universal availability of affordable, 4
high quality telecommunications services to all residents and businesses 5
throughout the state regardless of income, disability or location, the 6
authority shall (1) periodically investigate and determine, after notice 7
and hearing, local service options, including the definition and 8
components of any basic telecommunications services, necessary to 9
achieve universal service and meet customer needs; and (2) establish 10
lifeline and telecommunications relay service programs funded by all 11
telecommunications [carriers] service providers that provide intrastate 12
telecommunications services, as such terms are defined in 47 USC 153, 13
as amended from time to time, sufficient to provide low-income 14

Raised Bill No. 5338

LCO 1919 2 of 2

households or individuals, or persons who are hard of hearing or speech 15
impaired, with a level of telecommunications service or package of 16
telecommunications services that supports participation in the economy 17
and society of the state. The authority shall apportion the funding for 18
the lifeline and telecommunications relay service programs among 19
telecommunications [carriers] service providers on an equitable basis 20
based on the gross revenues of each telecommunications [carrier] 21
service provider that are generated in [Connecticut] the state, [both] 22
whether based on interstate [and] or intrastate services. The lifeline and 23
telecommunications relay service programs shall be administered by an 24
entity authorized, and subject to oversight, by the authority. The 25
authority shall determine by order any telecommunications service 26
provider eligible to provide benefits pursuant to the lifeline program 27
and which customers qualify for [the lifeline] benefits pursuant to such 28
program. Recipients of lifeline funds shall use such funds to pay for 29
telecommunications services provided by [any] a telecommunications 30
[carrier] service provider. 31
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 16-247e(a)

ET Joint Favorable