Media Contact: 
Robin Colwell, (202) 418-2300
Robin.Colwell@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER MICHAEL O’RIELLY 
ON CIRCULATION OF LIFELINE EXPANSION ORDER
WASHINGTON, March 8, 2016. —  Hours after the Chairman launched his press 
campaign and multiple sources reported he had circulated this item, it has just landed in 
my inbox. I haven’t had a chance to review all 150 pages yet, but as usual, the “Fact 
Sheet” released this morning raises more questions than answers. It’s impossible to tell 
whether the “budget mechanism” is actually a budget in any real sense of the word. It is 
unclear what “Commission action” would take place when spending gets close to the 
amount specified – would the full Commission get a vote? And what is the rationale to 
justify increasing spending on this Universal Service program – but not others – by $750 
million, an increase of 50%? These are the answers I will be looking for as I review the 
Order. But since they are not actually given in the information made public so far, under 
the current rules I will be barred from discussing them. This fiasco seems to add fuel to 
my arguments for releasing the document to the public or at minimum to stop censoring 
Commissioners with rules that aren’t being applied equally.
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Office of Commissioner Mike O’Rielly: (202) 418-2300
Twitter: @mikeofcc
www.fcc.gov/leadership/michael-orielly
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. Cir. 1974).