Lifeline and Link-Up: Industry

CARRIER RESPONSIBILITIES

To provide Lifeline and Link-Up services, carriers must be designated Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETCs) by their state commission or the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission). Under the FCC’s rules, carriers designated as ETCs must:

1) Make Lifeline and Link-Up services available to qualifying low-income consumers; and

2) Publicize the availability of Lifeline and Link-Up services in a manner reasonably designed to reach those likely to qualify for the support.

For more information about how to become an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier and about carrier responsibilities with respect to the Lifeline and Link-Up Programs, please see Part 54 of the FCC’s rules: www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_04/47cfr54_04.html.

REIMBURSEMENT

Carriers providing Lifeline and Link-Up services will receive universal service support based on the number of low-income consumers they serve.

To receive support for the discounts they provide consumers, carriers must file a Form 497 each quarter with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC).

For more information about providing low-income support go to: www.universalservice.org/li/.

USAC eligibility requirements: www.universalservice.org/li/telecom/default.aspx

For individual state requirements click on: www.naruc.org/commissions.cfm

Income Eligibility criteria: www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/lllu.html

FCC ORDERS AND NOTICES

Additional information about carrier responsibilities with respect to the Lifeline and Link-Up Programs can be found in the following orders and public notices:

2005 FCC Orders and Notices

• Order. The Wireline Competition Bureau granted the California Public Utilities Commission's and the People of the State of California's request to extend the date to establish certification and verification procedures. (Dkt. No. 03-109) DA 05-1602 (Dkt No. CC 96-45, Released 6/6/05) DA 05-1602 Acrobat | Word

• Public Notice. The Wireline Competition Bureau answers frequently asked questions concerning Lifeline order. (Dkt. No. CC 96-45) DA 05-1406 (Dkt No. CC 96-45, Released 5/18/05) DA 05-1406 Acrobat | Word

• Memorandum Opinion and Order. The Commission granted the petition of Smith Bagley, Inc. seeking waiver of Sections 54.400(e) of the Commission's Lifeline and Link-Up eligibility rules. (Dkt. No. 03-109) FCC 05-77 (Dkt No. WC-03-109, Released 3/30/05) FCC 05-77 Acrobat | Word

• Public Notice. Wireline Competition Bureau announces delay of effective date for revised Form 497 used for Low-Income Universal Service support until further notice. (Dkt. No. 03-109) DA 05-604 (Dkt No. WC-03-109, Released 3/4/05) DA 05-604 Acrobat | Word

2004 FCC Orders and Notices

• Public Notice. The Wireline Competition Bureau announces delayed effective date for revised Form 497 for Low-Income Universal Service support. (Dkt No. WC-03-109, Released 10/4/04) DA 04-3188 Acrobat | Word

• Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. This Order expands the federal default eligibility criteria to include an income-based criterion and additional programs, adopts certification and verification procedures, and adopts outreach guidelines. The Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeks comment on adopting an eligibility criterion of 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. (Dkt No. WC-03-109, Released 4/29/04) FCC 04-87 Acrobat | Word| Excel Lifeline Study Tables

• Data. Dataset used in Appendix K - Lifeline Staff Analysis: Quantifying the effects of adding an income criterion to the Lifeline eligibility criteria. (Dkt No. WC-03-109, Released 4/29/04) FCC 04-87 Excel

2003 FCC Orders and Notices

• Order on Reconsideration and Order. Addresses petitions for reconsideration of the Twelfth Report and Order, which adopted rules to provide additional targeted support to low-income consumers on tribal lands, and clarifies rules regarding the qualification criteria for enhanced Lifeline and Link-Up service (Dkt No. CC-96-45, Released 10/11/01) FCC 01-J-2 Acrobat | Text

2001 FCC Orders and Notices

• Public Notice. Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service seeks comment on review of Lifeline and Link-Up service for all low-income consumers. (Dkt No. CC-96-45, Released 10/11/01) FCC 01-J-2 Acrobat | Text

• Public Notice. The Commission released a Public Notice concerning the petition of Genesis Communications International, Inc. for Declaratory Ruling regarding Lifeline assistance revenues, pleading cycle established. Comments Due: 04/26/2001. Reply Comments Due: 05/11/2001. (Dkt No 96-45, released 3/27/01 DA No. 01-757. Text | Word

• Public Notice. The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands has filed a request for expanded universal service support for low-income consumers in the Commonwealth, similar to the measures adopted in the Commission's Tribal Order for low-income subscribers living on tribal lands. Release Date: March 14, 2001, Comment Date: April 13, 2001, Reply Comment Date: April 30, 2001 (Dkt No 96-45). DA 01-622 Text | Word 3/14/01

• Correction to Public Notice released February 14, 2001. Common Carrier Bureau seeks nomination for board member position representing low-income consumer on Universal Service Administrative Company Board of Directors. Nominations are due March 16, 2001. Due to a typographical error, the Public Notice was released as DA 01-370, rather than as DA 01-369. This document corrects the DA number to DA 01-369. (Dkt No 96-45, 97-21). Corrected Public Notice: DA 01-369 Text | Word 2/28/01

• Public Notice. Common Carrier Bureau seeks nomination for board member position representing low-income consumers on Universal Service Administrative Company Board of Directors. (Dkt No 96-45, 97-21). DA 01-370 2/14/01

2000 FCC Orders and Notices

• Order. The Commission released the Bell Atlantic-PA Lifeline Database Order. This order waives the requirement in the Commission's Lifeline eligibility rules that Bell Atlantic-PA (now Verizon) obtain signed certifications of eligibility from qualifying low-income consumers. Instead, the order allows Bell Atlantic-PA to rely on a Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare database to verify the eligibility of low-income consumers, thereby reducing burdens on consumers and Bell Atlantic. (CC Dkt. No. 96-45 DA 00-2899) Text |Word 12/27/00

• Order. The Commission asked the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service to review the definition of universal service pursuant to 47 U.S.C. sections 254(c)(1) and (c)(2) and to review Lifeline and Link-Up service for all low-income customers. (CC Dkt. No. 96-45 FCC 00-440) Text | Word 12/21/2000

• Order. The Commission adopts measures to: (1) promote telecommunications subscribership and infrastructure deployment within American Indian and Alaska Native tribal communities; (2) establish a framework for the resolution of eligible telecommunications carrier designation requests; and (3) apply the framework to pending petitions for designation as eligible telecommunications carriers. (CC Dkt. No. 96-45, Adopted 6/8/2000, Released 6/30/2000) FCC 00-208: Acrobat | Text | Word 7/12/2000