Every Lifeline plan has to meet a floor set by the FCC. These minimum service standards decide how much data, how many minutes, and how fast home internet a company must include before it can collect the Lifeline discount for you. For 2026 into 2027 the mobile floor is 4.5 GB of data and 1,000 voice minutes a month, and home internet must be at least 25/3 Mbps with 1,280 GB of usage.
This page explains each standard, how it connects to the $9.25 discount, and what it means for the free government phone plan you choose. If you are new to the program, start with how to apply for Lifeline.
Lifeline minimum service standards for 2026
| Service type | Minimum standard | In effect |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile voice | 1,000 minutes a month | Through November 30, 2027 |
| Mobile broadband | 3G or better, 4.5 GB of data a month | Through November 30, 2027 |
| Fixed (home) broadband | 25 Mbps download / 3 Mbps upload, 1,280 GB a month | Through November 30, 2027 |
| Fixed voice-only (landline) | No minimum standard | n/a |
USAC publishes these figures. In July 2026 the FCC kept them at the same levels for the year starting December 1, 2026, instead of raising the data allowances, while it works on a broader Lifeline rulemaking.
What “minimum” means for you
A minimum is a floor, not a ceiling. A company can give you more data or minutes, and many do, but it cannot claim Lifeline support for a plan that gives less. If a Lifeline plan offers under 4.5 GB of mobile data, it does not qualify for the broadband discount.
So when you compare companies in our Lifeline providers guide, treat 4.5 GB and 1,000 minutes as the starting point and look for plans that beat it.
How the standards connect to the discount amount
| What the plan includes | Lifeline support |
|---|---|
| Broadband that meets the standard (alone or bundled with voice) | Up to $9.25 a month |
| Voice-only service | $5.25 a month, kept in place through November 30, 2027 |
| Service on qualifying Tribal lands | Up to $25 more; see Tribal Lifeline |
This is why most free government phone plans bundle data with minutes: a plan that meets the broadband standard gets the full $9.25.
A short history of the data minimum
When mobile broadband standards began, the monthly data floor was much lower. It rose over several years to 4.5 GB. Under the FCC’s formula, it was due to jump to 29 GB a month on December 1, 2025, but the FCC paused that increase and has kept 4.5 GB since. The one-year waiver adopted in July 2026 extends that pause to December 1, 2027.
What 4.5 GB gets you
- Plenty for messaging, email, maps and browsing.
- Around four and a half hours of standard-definition video, based on Netflix’s estimate of about 1 GB an hour.
- Not much if you use your phone as a hotspot for a laptop; see free government phone with hotspot data.
If you need more, pick a company that offers well above the minimum, or move your benefit with a Lifeline transfer.
Minimum standards and home internet
Lifeline can also discount home internet. A home plan must deliver at least 25/3 Mbps and 1,280 GB a month to qualify. If you are replacing the ended Affordable Connectivity Program, our guide to Lifeline vs ACP covers the low-cost internet plans that can be combined with Lifeline. You can also ask your current provider to apply the discount; see Lifeline discount on your existing phone bill.
Who qualifies
The standards apply to the plan, not to you. You still qualify through income at or below 135% of the poverty guidelines or through a program such as SNAP or Medicaid; the 2026 limits are in our Lifeline eligibility guide, and our explainer on what SNAP is covers the most common qualifying program.
Sources: USAC: Minimum service standards, FCC DA 26-796, FCC DA 26-651, Benton Institute on the 2025 standards, 47 CFR 54.408.