May 2005

Holiday Announcement - The Low Income Division will be closed Monday, May 30, 2005 in observance of Memorial Day. (5/27/05)

 

Companies that have submitted their Lifeline verification results as of May 26, 3:30 p.m. (5/27/05)

 

Companies that have submitted their Lifeline verification results as of May 26, 3:30 p.m. (5/27/05)

• Verifications received [, 107kb]

All FCC rules implemented as a result of the Commission's April 29, 2004 Low Income Order have been approved (5/26/05)

All FCC rules implemented as a result of the Commission's April 29, 2004 Low Income Order have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget and are effective.

 

Wireline Competition Bureau Answers Frequently Asked Questions Concerning Lifeline Order (5/19/05)

The Commission’s April 29, 2004 order addressing Lifeline and Link-Up imposes certain requirements on all states regarding the establishment of certification and verification procedures for recipients of federal Lifeline and Link-Up universal service support.

Under the terms of the Lifeline Order, states that have their own state-based Lifeline and Link-Up programs have flexibility in how the certification and verification procedures are established and administered. States that do not have these state-based low income programs are designated “federal default states” and must follow certification and verification procedures set out in the Lifeline Order. Under the terms of the Lifeline Order, all states -- including federal default states -- must have their certification and verification procedures in place by June 22, 2005.

The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) has received several inquiries concerning implementation of the Lifeline Order’s rules. In this Public Notice, we provide answers to frequently asked questions.

For further information, contact Mika Savir, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418-7400, TTY (202) 418-0484.

• May 18, 2005 Public Notice [,55kb]
• Lifeline Order Frequently Asked Questions
• Updated Verification Sample Letter to reflect FCC Guidance in the Public Notice [, 34kb]

*All companies that submit their Verification Sample letter via email must follow up with a signed paper copy.

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March 2005

The results of the first annual verification of continued eligibility of Lifeline subscribers required pursuant to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) new rules are due on June 22, 2005 (4/25/05)

The results of the first annual verification of continued eligibility of Lifeline subscribers required pursuant to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) new rules are due on June 22, 2005. Specifically, eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) in states that follow the federal rules because they do not have their own Lifeline programs must check the continued eligibility of a “statistically valid sample” of Lifeline customers and report those results to USAC. USAC has posted on its web site a chart to help ETCs determine how to calculate what is a “statistically valid sample [, 22kb]” based on the number of Lifeline customers served. USAC has also posted a sample letter [, 34kb] ETCs can use to submit the results of their verification efforts. Please visit USAC’s web site for these documents.

Details describing the verification process are set out in the FCC’s Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, WC Docket No. 03-109, FCC 04-87 (released April 29, 2004) at paragraphs 33-36 and Appendix J. In this Order, the FCC provides two ways for ETCs operating in federal default states to verify eligibility. An ETC can contact a state agency directly to determine whether particular subscribers continue to be eligible to participate in a qualifying program or have a certain income level. In the alternative, the FCC’s Order states that an ETC can survey their subscribers directly by having the subscribers present in person or send a copy of any Lifeline-qualifying public assistance card (such as a Medicaid card) and self-certifying, under penalty of perjury, that they continue to participate in the Lifeline-qualifying public assistance program. Subscribers who have qualified for Lifeline under the income-based criterion must present current documentation that shows their household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, and must self-certify, under penalty of perjury, the number of individuals in their household and that the documentation presented accurately represents their annual household income.

Please see the FCC’s Order for further explanation. The verification results should be sent to USAC at the address below by June 22, 2005:

Vice-President, High Cost and Low Income Division
Annual Lifeline Verification
USAC
2000 L Street, NW
Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20036

• Statistically valid sample [, 22kb]
• Sample letter[, 23kb]

The FCC Has Delayed the Implementation of the Revised FCC Form 497 (3/7/05)

The FCC has delayed the implementation of the Revised FCC Form 497 until further notice. Please see the attached Public Notice [, 138kb]. If you have any questions, please contact 866-873-4727 or lifilings.

The 2005 Estimated Income Requirements for a Household At or Below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines [, 25kb] are now available (3/4/05)

The 2005 Estimated Income Requirements for a Household At or Below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines are now available at USAC’s website.

The 2005 HHS Poverty Guidelines are available at the US Department of Health and Human Services website.

Verizon Admonished for Lifeline/Link Up Violations (3/4/05)

In Order DA 05-525, the Commission admonished Verizon for violating Section 214(e)(1)(B) and the rules by failing to publicize the availability of Lifeline or Link-Up services "in a manner reasonably designed to reach those likely to qualify" for the services. The Commission found that Verizon failed adequately to publicize Lifeline or Link-Up to low-income residents of 11 tribes in its service area for a period of approximately three years. The Commission did not propose a forfeiture because Section 503(b)(6) specifies that a proposed forfeiture must be issued against a common carrier for violations of the Act or the rules within one year of the occurrence of the violation. Because Verizon undertook renewed outreach efforts in these six states within the last year, the Commission was constrained from pursuing a proposed forfeiture. However, it found an admonishment necessary to redress the statutory and rule violations, and to ensure future compliance. The Commission required Verizon to file a report with the Enforcement Bureau within 60 days of the Order detailing its plans for future compliance with the Act and the Commission's rules and orders. The Order is attached.

• Verizon Lifeline Order [, 52kb]

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February 2005

FCC issued an Erratum correcting Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 04-87, released April 29, 2004. (Dkt No. 03-109)(2/3/05)

ERRATUM - LIFELINE AND LINK-UP. Issued Erratum correcting Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 04-87, released April 29, 2004. (Dkt No. 03-109). Action by: Assistant Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau. Adopted: 01/31/2005 by ERRATUM. (DA No. 05-262). OMD

• http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-256431A1.doc []
• http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-256431A1.pdf []
• http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-256431A1.txt

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