Universal
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Promoting Telecommunications
Services Among Indians
The FCC expanded the
Universal Service Low-Income program
to address the challenge of providing telecommunications on remote tribal
lands. American Indians and Alaska Natives living on tribal lands
face a number of problems regarding access to telecommunications. These
problems include high prices for basic telephone service, limited local
calling areas, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of competition. The
expanded programs are:
- Enhanced
Lifeline: Provides eligible low-income consumers living on tribal
lands with monthly discounts on the cost of receiving basic telephone
service. These discounts can be as much as $35 a month, compared
to $10 a month for conventional Lifeline discounts. The discount
may enable low-income consumers living on tribal lands to receive
telephone service for as little as $1 per month. Additional
support may be available through state Lifeline programs.
- Enhanced
Link-Up: Provides eligible low-income consumers living on tribal
lands with a one-time discount on initial installation or activation
of a wireline or wireless telephone for their primary residence.
Eligible consumers may receive discounts of up to $100 on initial
connection charges, compared to $30 under conventional Link-up. Link-Up
may not offset any costs of a wireless handset.
Carriers are required to publicize the availability of Enhanced Lifeline
and Enhanced Link-Up. In addition, the three other Universal Service
programs are open to Indians and Indian businesses. These programs
are the High-Cost, Schools & Libraries,
and Rural
Health Care programs.
For more information, please click on:
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Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Modifies
the Commission's rules to improve the effectiveness of low-income
support mechanism, which ensures that quality telecommunications
services are available to low-incom consumers at just, reasonable,
and affordable rates. (Dkt No. WC-03-109, Released 4/29/04) FCC 04-87 Acrobat | Word
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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 5/21/03) FCC 03-115 Acrobat
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Order. The Federal Communications Commission released
an Order that finds that the FCC, not the South Dakota PUC, has jurisdiction
to designate Western Wireless an ETC for service to tribal members
on the Pine Ridge Reservation. (Dkt No. CC-96-45, Released 10/5/01)
FCC 01-284 Acrobat | Text
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Order. The Federal Communications Commission released
an Order that designates Western Wireless as an ETC for service to
tribal members on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. (Dkt
No. CC-96-45, Released 10/5/01) FCC 01-283 Acrobat | Text
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Order. Common Carrier Bureau releases Order granting
the requests from Mescalero Apache Telecom, Inc. (Mescalero), GTE
Southwest Incorporated (GTE), and Valor Telecommunications of New
Mexico, LLC (Valor), for a waiver of the definition of "study
area" contained in the Part 36 Appendix-Glossary of the Commissions
rules. (Dkt No. CC-96-45, Released 1/18/01) DA No. 01-129 Text | Word
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Order. The Commission releases Order granting the
request from Mescalero Apache Telecom, Inc., Petition for a waiver
of Section 54.305 of the Commission's Rules.(Dkt No. CC-96-45, Released
1/18/01) FCC No. 01-13. Text | Word
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Order. Common Carrier Bureau releases Order granting
the requests from ATEAC, Inc., Alaska Telephone Company, Arctic Slope
Telephone Association Cooperative, Inc., Interior Telephone Company,
Inc., Mukluk Telephone Company, Inc., and United-KUC, Inc. for waiver
to effectuate sale of 13 exchanges comprising 23,796 access lines
in Alaska: Grants waiver of the Part 36 (universal service) freeze
on study area boundaries. (Dkt No. CC-96-45, Released 1/17/01) DA
No. 01-101 Text | Word
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FCC Takes Steps to Promote Access to Telecommunications
on Tribal Lands. (Order released 06/20/2000)
Order: Word | Acrobat
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