NEWS News media Information 202 / 418-0500TTY 202 / 418-2555Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830Internet: http://www.fcc.govftp.fcc.gov Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974). FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: August 6, 2009 Mark Wigfield at (202) 418-0253 Email: mark.wigfield@fcc.gov FCC RELEASES TELEPHONE PENETRATION BY INCOME REPORT Washington, D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today released a report presenting data on telephone penetration levels on a state-by-state basis for various income categories. The report presents penetration statistics based on individual household data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) conducted by the Census Bureau in March 2008. This report, which is updated annually, provides more detailed information on telephone penetration to complement the information available in Telephone Subscribership in the United States, which is published three times a year. Specifically, this report is designed to track the effects of federal and state Universal Service Fund Lifeline and Linkup support mechanisms that defray the cost of telephone service for low-income consumers. Report Highlights § In March 2008, penetration among low-income households (under $10,000 annual income in 1984 dollars) nationwide was 89.7%. This contrasts with an overall nationwide penetration rate of 95.2% in March 2008. § Since 1985, when the FCC first established Lifeline to help low-income households afford the monthly cost of telephone service, penetration rates among low-income households have grown from 80.0% to 89.7%. § States that have provided a high level of lifeline support for telephone service for low-income consumers experienced an average growth in penetration of 4.0% for low-income households from March 1997 to March 2008. In contrast, states that provided a low level of lifeline support experienced an average growth of 1.4% in telephone penetration rates for low-income households between March 1997 and March 2008. § Penetration rates among low-income households ranged from a high of 97.3% to a low of 81.7% in March 2008. This report is available in the FCC's Reference Information Center, Courtyard Level, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554. Call Best Copy and Printing, Inc. at (202) 488-5300 to purchase a copy. This report also can be downloaded from the FCC- State Link Internet site at . -FCC- Wireline Competition Bureau contact: Alexander Belinfante at (202) 418-0944; TTY (202) 418-0484. News about the Federal Communications Commission can also be found on the Commission’s web site www.fcc.gov.