FCC Chairman Critiques California Governor Over Funding Issues

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has called out California Governor Gavin Newsom for what he describes as misleading statements. This comes after the state denied any misconduct related to a federal investigation that revealed substantial taxpayer funds were allocated to phone lines associated with deceased individuals.

A recent report from the FCC disclosed that California had received millions in federal funds intended for phone and internet services benefiting 94,000 deceased individuals.

Carr pointed out discrepancies in California’s response, noting that it claimed individuals only died after signing up for services. However, he highlighted that the Inspector General’s recommendations pointed to tens of thousands who had registered posthumously. His thoughts were shared in a post on X.

The remarks from Carr followed Newsom’s assertion that, according to the California Public Utilities Commission, some deaths occur during enrollment in the federal Lifeline program, but he argued that most fatalities happen afterwards.

Carr suggested that this response leaves more questions than answers. He commented on California’s explanation regarding the delays in account closures after a person’s death, stating that such delays don’t fully account for the scale of the issue.

From 2020 to 2025, California accepted approximately $3.8 million in federal funding through the Lifeline program, based on findings from the FCC’s Inspector General. This program allocates nearly $1 billion each year to subsidize phone and internet services for those in low-income brackets.