Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler on Tuesday made a final proposal seeking approval for a $9.25 monthly subsidy for low-income Americans to get broadband Internet access. Since last year, the FCC has been considering revamping the $1.5 billion "Lifeline" program, which has helped lower income Americans get access to telecommunications technologies since 1985.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has said he wants to give those receiving the subsidy a choice of using it for phone services, high-speed Internet, or both. But households will get only a single $9.25 a month subsidy that would apply to both services.

The commission will vote on the proposal at its March 31 meeting.

The proposal requires phone providers to offer unlimited talk time for all plans for subsidy users after December 2016 and by the end of 2019 providers would have to offer both phone and broadband service to qualify under the program.