Glossary of Terms
Use this USAC Glossary to find commonly-used terms and definitions. Click the ‘Terms’ column heading to sort the table alphabetically or use the search bar to filter results.
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|
Terms
|
Program |
Definitions |
|---|---|---|
| Lifeline Application Form | Lifeline |
The application consumers complete to apply for the Lifeline benefit. Consumers can apply online at lifelinesupport.org, by mailing a completed paper application, or with the assistance of a participating service provider. |
| Lifeline Claims System (LCS) | Lifeline |
The online filing system that service providers use to submit claims for reimbursement for offering Lifeline-supported services to Lifeline subscribers. |
| Lifeline Consumer | Lifeline |
Any individual may qualify to receive the Lifeline benefit if their household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines, or if they participate in SNAP, Medicaid, or other government assistance programs. Consumers need to apply to receive the benefit. For more information on the application process, visit lifelinesupport.org. |
| Lifeline Consumer Advocates | Lifeline |
Individuals or organizations such as case workers, digital navigators, housing assistance staff, or shelter staff that partner with Lifeline to generate awareness about the program and support Lifeline consumers in receiving the Lifeline benefit. |
| Lifeline Program | Lifeline |
One of the four universal service programs administered by USAC. The program offers a monthly benefit of up to $9.25 towards qualifying phone or internet services for eligible subscribers, or up to $34.25 for those living on qualifying Tribal lands. |
| Lifeline Program One‑Per‑Household Worksheet | Lifeline |
The worksheet consumers complete to ensure that no more than one household receives Lifeline at their address. More than one person at an address may receive the Lifeline benefit, but only one benefit may be received per household. See also Household. |
| Lifeline Support Center | Lifeline |
Helps consumers with applying for Lifeline, understanding eligibility requirements, and the annual recertification process. The Lifeline Support Center is open every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET and may be reached by calling (800) 234-9473 or emailing LifelineSupport@usac.org. |
| LifelineSupport.org | Lifeline |
USAC’s official consumer-facing Lifeline website that provides information about the Lifeline benefit, how to apply, manage the benefit once enrolled, and access support resources. The site includes downloadable handouts for consumer advocates and providers to support outreach and awareness efforts. |
| Local Area Network (LAN) | E-Rate |
A data network that provides connections generally within an eligible school or library to other locations within the school or library. |
| Local Number Portability (LNP) | Service Providers |
The ability granted to consumers to retain their telephone number when switching telecommunications companies. USAC is statutorily responsible for calculating carrier contributions to the Local Number Portability Administration (LNPA) database. |
| Lowest Corresponding Price (LCP) | E-Rate |
The lowest price that a service provider charges to non-residential customers who are similarly situated to a particular E-Rate program applicant (school, library, or consortium) for similar services. |
| Managed Internal Broadband Services (MIBS) | E-Rate |
Services provided by a third party for the operation, management, and monitoring of internal connections components. E-Rate support is limited to eligible expenses or portions of expenses that directly support and are necessary for broadband connectivity within schools and libraries. A Category Two service type on the ESL. See also Eligible Services List. |
| Managed Wi‑Fi | E-Rate |
See Managed Internal Broadband Services (MIBS). |
| Memorandum Opinion and Order (MO&O) | High Cost, Service Providers |
Order issued by the FCC to deny a petition for rulemaking, modify a decision, grant or deny a petition for reconsideration, or grant or deny an application for review of a decision. A second or third Memorandum Opinion and Order (2nd MO&O/3rd MO&O) may also be issued. |
| Mini‑Bid | E-Rate |
An evaluation process used by E-Rate applicants when a state files an FCC Form 470 and signs state master contracts with more than one service provider. The applicant must evaluate all eligible state master contracts by determining the factors to use for its evaluation, with the price of eligible equipment and services as the most heavily-weighted factor, and demonstrate why the service provider it chooses is the most cost-effective solution. |
| Ministerial and Clerical (M&C) Errors | E-Rate, Rural Health Care |
Also known as M&C errors, these are data entry mistakes: e.g., mistyping a number or incorrectly calculating arithmetic. M&C errors on FCC forms may be corrected after the forms are certified by USAC. |
| Mixed Merger | High Cost |
A transaction in which a carrier receiving legacy, cost-based support acquires or is acquired by a carrier receiving fixed monthly support, such as model-based funding. Carriers that have been part of a mixed merger are subject to an FCC condition that caps the operating expenses of the carriers of the combined entity that receive cost-based support in order to prevent potential cost shifting. More information is available on USAC’s Mixed Merger Requirements page. |
| Multiple Bill (Multi‑Bill) Circuit | Rural Health Care |
A data or voice network connection between two locations (“circuit”) that involves more than one telecommunications carrier. Customers served by a multi-bill circuit receive a bill from each participating carrier. |
| My Portal | Rural Health Care |
USAC’s legacy online forms submission tool for the RHC program. Applicants created accounts in My Portal by submitting an FCC Form 460 (HCF Program) or FCC Form 465 (Telecom Program). My Portal has been replaced by RHC Connect for FY2022 and future funding years for the HCF Program and FY2024 and future funding years for the Telecom Program. My Portal will continue to be used for CCPP projects. |
| National Average Cost Per Loop (NACPL) | High Cost |
A metric, determined monthly by NECA, that is used to calculate legacy High Cost support. |
| National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) | High Cost, Service Providers |
A rural carrier association that collects and validates cost and revenue data for member companies, distributes revenue from access charges among pool members, and helps members file access charge tariffs with the FCC and comply with FCC rules. |
| National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) | Lifeline |
A system used by service providers to enroll qualifying consumers in the Lifeline program and to manage their Lifeline subscribers, including the detection and elimination of duplicative support. |
| National School Lunch Program (NSLP) | E-Rate |
A federal program that provides school lunches to eligible students at a free or reduced rate. A school system’s NSLP participation rate (i.e., the number of students enrolled in the NSLP divided by the total student population) is one measure of poverty that schools may use to calculate their discount rates in the E-Rate program. For additional information about discount calculations in E-Rate, visit the program’s Calculating Discounts page. |
| National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) | High Cost, Service Providers |
Part of the Department of Commerce, the NTIA sets federal telecommunications policy and provides telecommunications grants to various entities. It differs from the FCC in two key respects: 1) the FCC is an independent agency, while the NTIA falls under the executive branch; and 2) the NTIA has jurisdiction over federal government communications, while state and local government communications are within the purview of the FCC. |
| National Verifier | Lifeline |
An online application system that facilitates the determination of consumer eligibility for the Lifeline benefit and is also used to complete annual recertification for existing subscribers. |
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