FCC Provides Guidance to Telecom Carriers on Process to Elect USAC to Perform Lifeline Recertification

The Wireline Competition Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission provides guidance regarding the process for eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) to elect the Universal Service Administrative Company to perform Lifeline recertification for their subscribers in 2015. Starting in 2015, USAC will provide ETCs with an opportunity to update consumer addresses 45 days prior to USAC's recertification attempts. Second, USAC will provide sufficient notice to consumers if they are going to be de-enrolled from Lifeline for a failure to recertify prior to de-enrollment by an ETC. Finally, ETCs choosing USAC for recertification may limit the Study Area Codes (SACs) for which USAC performs recertification.