Lifeline/Low-Income Consumers

National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier for all New Enrollments in Five States

The Federal Communications Commission announces the launch of the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier for all new enrollments in Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Starting on March 24, 2020, eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) in these five states will be required to use the National Verifier’s eligibility determination process for all consumers applying for Lifeline service and must cease using legacy eligibility processes for prospective Lifeline subscribers. As of March 24, 2020, consumers in Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin can begin to check

FCC Seeks to Refresh Net Neutrality Docket

In Mozilla Corp. v. FCC,  the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld the vast majority of the Federal Communications Commission’s 2017 decision to end net neutrality protections. However, the court also remanded three discrete issues for further consideration by the FCC. On February 6, 2020, the D.C. Circuit denied all pending petitions for rehearing, and the Court issued its mandate on February 18, 2020. With this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks to refresh the record regarding the issues remanded to the FCC by the Mozilla Court.

Advisory Regarding ETC Compliance with Lifeline Usage Rule

In an Advisory, the Federal Communications Commission's Office of Inspector General alerted Lifeline carriers, beneficiaries, and the public to the potential for widespread carrier non-compliance with the Lifeline usage rule. The Advisory provides examples of usage rule violations the OIG has encountered in its ongoing investigations of Lifeline carriers, including reimbursements sought for subscriber accounts that have never had any qualifying usage.

Is Universal Service Fund in Peril? A Close Look at the Budget – and Where the Money Comes From

The percentage of end-user phone bills that go toward the Universal Service Fund (USF) has been climbing and there are serious questions about the sustainability of that funding mechanism, despite a relatively stable USF budget. The money for USF comes from companies that offer interstate and international long-distance telecom services (i.e., voice services). At one time most of the money went toward voice services but over the years, more and more of it has gone towards broadband.

Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: Advanced Telecommunication Deployment Is Not Reasonable, Timely

We encourage the Federal Communications Commission to take a broad, meaningful look at broadband deployment as it relates to its use and to investigate data that demonstrate low-income neighborhoods lack fiber infrastructure. We reiterate that the FCC should reaffirm its 2019 Broadband Deployment Report conclusion that fixed and mobile broadband services are complementary, not substitutes for each other. The FCC’s Broadband Deployment Report and Form 477 data collection must also incorporate key

Inspector General Issues Advisory Regarding Lifeline Usage Compliance

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Federal Communications Commission alerted Lifeline carriers, beneficiaries, and the public to the potential for widespread carrier non-compliance with the Lifeline usage rule. The Advisory provides examples of usage rule violations the OIG has encountered in its ongoing investigations of Lifeline carriers, including reimbursements sought for subscriber accounts that have never had any qualifying usage.

New America Urges FCC to Abandon “Misguided and Cynical” Lifeline Proposal

New America's Open Technology Institute urged the Federal Communications Commission to abandon a cynical set of proposals that would weaken the Lifeline program and jeopardize consumer privacy.

The Latest FCC Lifeline Proposals Are Part of Chairman Pai's Relentless War on the Poor

Free Press condemned the Federal Communications Commission for waging war on the poor as the agency moved forward with a proceeding to deny essential broadband and telephone subsidies to low-income people. 

What's Going on With the FCC's Lifeline Program?

For nearly 35 years, the Lifeline program has provided discounts on phone service for qualifying low-income consumers. Over the years, the program has been reformed to include other critical communications services, including wireless and broadband. On Jan 27, a new set of changes, adopted back in Oct, will go into effect while the public gets to weigh in on additional proposals to reform the program. All month, we've been publishing articles on broadband adoption. For many people who haven't yet started using broadband internet access service, cost is a major obstacle.

Chairman Response to Members of Congress Regarding Cap on Universal Service Fund

On Aug 22, 2019, Sen Jon Tester (D-MT) wrote to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai expressing concern about the FCC's proposal to establish a cap on the overall Universal Service Fund (USF) budget and combine the E-rate and Rural Health Care programs under a single sub-cap.

Chairman Pai's Response to Rep. González-Colón Regarding National Verifier

On Oct 31, 2019, Rep Jennifer González-Colón (D-PR) wrote to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai about how the Puerto Rico Telecommunications Bureau (PRTB) filed a waiver request to suspend the requirement that carriers use the National Verifier eligibility determination system for the Lifeline communication services until the new verification program proves operations. The FCC denied the waiver request, and Rep González-Colón, while ultimately supporting the purpose of the National Verifier, urged for reconsideration from the FCC and approve the waiver request. 

US Funds Free Android Phones For The Poor — But With Permanent Chinese Malware

For years, low-income households have been able to get cheap cell service and even free smartphones via the US government-funded Lifeline Assistance program. One provider, Assurance Wireless, offers a free Android device along with free data, texts and minutes. It all sounds ideal for those who don’t have the money to splash on fancy Apple or Google phones.

Sponsor: 

Federal Communications Commission

Date: 
Wed, 02/26/2020 - 05:59

The Federal Communications Commission seeks comment on adding a goal of broadband adoption to the Lifeline program, making additional program integrity improvements to the program, and establishing privacy training requirements for entities accessing Lifeline subscribers’ personal information.

Reply comments are due on or before February 25, 2020. 



Sponsor: 

Federal Communications Commission

Date: 
Tue, 01/28/2020 - 05:59

The Federal Communications Commission seeks comment on adding a goal of broadband adoption to the Lifeline program, making additional program integrity improvements to the program, and establishing privacy training requirements for entities accessing Lifeline subscribers’ personal information.

Comments are due on or before January 27, 2020 and reply comments are due on or before February 25, 2020. 



Sponsor: 

Federal Communications Commission

Date: 
Mon, 01/27/2020 - 18:00

New Lifeline Rules Effective January 27, 2020; Comment Period Set

The Federal Communications Commission published its new rule for its Lifeline program making January 27, 2020 the date the changes will go into effect. The changes include:

Next National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier Launch in 3 States

A soft launch of the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier begins Friday, December 20, 2019 in California, Oregon, and Texas. Unlike all other states, territories, and the District of Columbia, these three states operate their own comprehensive systems, in place of the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD). As a result, the Lifeline program continues to rely on these states’ systems for eliminating duplicative Lifeline support. Similarly, each of these states has its own system in place to determine subscriber eligibility for the federal Lifeline program in addition to its own s

Launch of National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier in 9 States Announced

National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier launches in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Washington. Starting on January 22, 2020, eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) in these nine states will be required to use the National Verifier’s eligibility determination process for all consumers applying for Lifeline service and must cease using legacy eligibility processes for prospective Lifeline subscribers.

Chairman Pai's Response Regarding the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier

On Aug 2, Reps Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Mike Doyle (D-PA), G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Kathy Castor (D-FL), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) wrote to the Federal Communications Commission to urge the agency delay any future hard launch of the Lifeline National Eligibility Verifier (National Verifier) in a state until the FCC establishes connections to Medicaid or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) databases for Lifeline eligibility verification in that state.

FCC Establishes API to Streamline Lifeline Enrollment Process

The Federal Communications Commission launched an electronic interface that participating Lifeline program carriers can use when verifying a potential subscriber’s eligibility for the program. The application programming interface, or API, connects carriers’ systems to the Lifeline program’s National Eligibility Verifier. The API will enable carriers to send applicant information directly to the National Verifier for an eligibility check, thereby reducing the paperwork required from potential subscribers.

FCC Announces the Next National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier Launch

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau announced that the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier (National Verifier) will soft launch on December 16, 2019 in Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The soft launch period will allow eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) to become familiar with the National Verifier and adjust and test their systems and business processes before use of the National Verifier becomes mandatory. During the soft launch, only ETCs will have access to the National Verifier.

Sprint Overcounted Low-Income Customers for Years

Sprint has for years failed to accurately measure how many of the low-income Americans it serves through the federal Lifeline program actually use their phones. The company is facing a potential settlement with the Federal Communications Commission after the regulator in September said Sprint improperly collected “tens of millions” of dollars in federal subsidies for 885,000 Lifeline customers who weren’t using the service.

Many Pregnant Women Live Too Far From a Doctor to Get Regular Care. Here's How Technology Can Help

For anyone who is pregnant, having a hospital delivery room nearby means knowing that when the baby arrives medical assistance will be close at hand. But for too many of those in rural America, this comfort is often no longer available—and it is putting both women and babies at risk. In fact, the United States is the only industrialized nation with an increasing rate of maternal mortality and this problem hits women of color especially hard. The Federal Communications Commission has a long history of working to promote access to telehealth in rural communities.

FCC Proposes New Rules for Removing Bad Actors from FCC Programs

The Federal Communications Commission began a rulemaking which would adopt new procedures to protect federal funds from misuse. The proposed rules would provide the FCC with broader and more flexible authority to promptly remove bad actors from participation in the Universal Service Fund (USF), the Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund, and the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program. The proposal would align FCC rules with the Office of Management and Budget’s Guidelines to Agencies on Government Debarment and Suspension.