Summary of Order

The FCC established temporary Lifeline and Link Up Assistance benefits for eligible consumers affected by Hurricane Katrina. Specifically, eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) can receive $130.00 in federal Lifeline support for providing a wireless handset and a package of at least 300 minutes of service to eligible consumers. In addition, $30.00 in Link Up support is available to defray the cost of commencing telecommunications service at a temporary residence. Eligible consumers can also receive the benefit of a $30.00 discount for reconnecting telecommunications service when they return to their permanent residence in the Hurricane Katrina disaster area.

To be eligible, consumers must be approved for individual FEMA housing assistance or determined by FEMA to be eligible for such assistance. Support is limited to one Lifeline benefit per household; a household may receive Link Up support for both their temporary residence and their permanent residence. Only telecommunications carriers that have been designated as ETCs can receive support from the federal Lifeline and Link Up programs for providing benefits to eligible consumers affected by Hurricane Katrina. A telecommunications carrier that is not an ETC may apply to the FCC for designation.

Eligible consumers will apply for these temporary Lifeline and Link Up Assistance benefits through the telecommunications carrier serving the area in which they are living. ETCs will apply to USAC for reimbursement for providing the benefits to eligible consumers.

Audit Information

To safeguard the USF from potential program violations, all beneficiaries and service providers receiving these monies are subject to potential audit and those that receive more than $1 million will automatically be audited by the Administrator to ensure the funds are used for their intended purposes. All eligible telecommunications carriers, service providers, or beneficiaries requesting support under these temporary rules shall be subject to audit or investigation by the FCC’s Office of Inspector General (“OIG”), or other authorized federal or state governmental agency and, upon request, must make available any documentation and records necessary to verify compliance with these rules.