About USAC

9/20/2019 – News Brief Issued

9/19/2019 – Now Available: National Verifier Carrier Eligibility API Test Environment

Beginning today, Thursday, September 19, service providers are able to start testing the National Verifier Carrier APIs in the staging (pre-production) environment. Carriers can request the API specifications by emailing LifelineProgram@usac.org with the subject line “NV Carrier API Specifications.”

Background

USAC and the FCC are moving forward with APIs that enable carriers to interface directly with the National Verifier. The APIs will be used by service providers to conduct eligibility checks and receive eligibility result responses. We anticipate that these APIs will be used by service providers to streamline the Lifeline application process and provide a better customer service experience to their Lifeline customers.

Two APIs are now available for these purposes. The first API, referred to as the “Eligibility Check API,” enables service providers to initiate an application for Lifeline in the National Verifier via API. The second API, referred to as the “Status Check API,” enables service providers to retrieve the current status of a consumer’s application, using a unique identifier or token created during the eligibility check.

More information about each of these optional APIs and how to use them is provided in the specification document. In addition, USAC will host office hours to discuss Phase 1 of the National Verifier APIs testing on Thursday, September 26. Register for these office hours here.

The recording from yesterday's National Verifier Carrier API webinar will be available shortly on the Lifeline Learn page.

Accessing the API

Carriers can proceed with testing using the requests and mock data provided in the API Specifications. They should use the following service URL to point their request towards the staging (pre-production) environment: https://api-stg.universalservice.org/nvca-svc/.

Service providers can create a new API ID or they can use the same API ID that they already use for testing the existing NLAD APIs. If they choose to create a new API ID for testing the National Verifier APIs, they should follow the same API ID creation process that is used to create an NLAD API ID. An API ID that works for NLAD will also work when testing the National Verifier APIs.

Interconnectivity Service Agreements

Use of the National Verifier APIs in the production environment will require an interconnection security agreement (ISA), which is a federal security standards best practice and is needed to comply with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standards that ensure the security of USAC’s systems.  The ISA is an agreement established between USAC and each service provider to document the technical requirements and terms of use for accessing the National Verifier APIs. Service providers who plan to use the APIs should begin to consider who to engage within their company to review and sign such a document. USAC will share the ISA template in early fall. 

An executed ISA will be required to use the National Verifier APIs when they are released to the production environment. At that time, an executed ISA will also be required to continue testing in the staging (pre-production) environment. However, an executed ISA is not necessary during the initial testing period.

Questions and Additional Information

Please direct questions regarding the National Verifier APIs to LifelineProgram@usac.org.

9/18/2019 – Upcoming National Verifier Maintenance

9/18/2019 – Lifeline National Verifier Connection to Nationwide Medicaid Data

Partnership Simplifies Qualification for Lifeline Consumers, Bolsters Lifeline Program Integrity

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced a new National Verifier data connection for nationwide Medicaid data with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that benefits consumers who wish to enroll or are currently enrolled in the federal Lifeline program. This connection took effect on Tuesday, September 17, 2019.     

9/18/2019 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: September 22-23

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and the EPC training site will be unavailable from Sunday, September 22 at 7:00 p.m EDT through Monday, September 23 at 1:00 a.m. EDT for monthly system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use EPC. We apologize for any inconvenience.

9/17/2019 – NLAD System Notification

9/13/2019 – News Brief Issued

9/13/2019 – Upcoming Scheduled System Maintenance - September

USAC is conducting monthly scheduled maintenance starting Friday, September 13 at 9 p.m. until Saturday, September 14 at 10 a.m. ET. 

During this time, some applications may not be available.

9/13/2019 – FCC Announces 4th Quarter 2019 Contribution Factor Increase to 25.0 Percent

9/13/2019 – 2019 Applicant Training at USAC - Week of September 16

The first sessions of USAC’s annual applicant trainings will take place at USAC’s office located at 700 12th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005 the week of September 16, 2019. For those of you joining us at USAC next week, here are a few reminders to help you prepare for the training.

• Half-Day Beginners Training - Monday, September 16 and Thursday September 19: 12:30 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. 
  These identical, half-day afternoon trainings are specifically for beginner participants who want the very basics of the program.
• Full-Day General Training - Tuesday, September 17 and Friday, September 20: 9:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
  These identical, full-day trainings are designed for participants of all proficiency levels.

Registration: Please bring a photo ID. The name on USAC’s registration records must match the name of the person who attends the training. We are at full capacity and will not be able to accommodate walk-in registrations.

Check-in Process:

1. Enter the 12th Street lobby at 700 12th St. NW, Washington, DC 20005.
2. Go to the security desk in the building lobby to receive your security pass. 
3. Take the elevator to the 9th floor. 
4. A USAC representative by the elevators will guide you to the training event.
5. Go to the registration desk in USAC's lobby to check in and receive your name badge and training agenda. 
   

NOTE: If you are attending two days of training, you will need to check in with USAC and receive a security pass at the beginning of each day.

Download the Training Materials: Training materials are available on our website. We will be paperless again this year, and will not have printouts. Please plan accordingly.

Food: Attendees should make their own arrangements for meals. USAC will provide recommendations for nearby breakfast and lunch options within short walking distance, of which there are many.

We look forward to seeing you next week. For more information on our 2019 training events, please reference our 2019 Service Provider & Applicant Trainings page.

9/12/2019 – Upcoming Scheduled System Maintenance

Scheduled System Maintenance, September 16

In addition to September's monthly maintenance scheduled for tomorrow, the National Verifier pre-production and production environment will be unavailable due to scheduled maintenance starting Monday, September 16 from 9:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. ET. Additionally, NLAD users will not be able to perform verify, enroll, or transfer transactions using NLAD’s pre-production and production National Verifier mode.

NLAD users will still be able to use the legacy workflow and reports in the pre-production and production environments.

9/12/2019 – Legacy System Outage Due to System Maintenance: September 13-14

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems will be unavailable from 9:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, September 13 through 10:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday, September 14 for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to file invoices and use some of the search tools. The BEAR training site will also be unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

NOTE: The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will not be affected by this maintenance.

9/12/2019 – FY2018 Annual Report for HCF Program Consortia Due September 30

Per Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) Program rules, all consortia receiving Rural Health Care (RHC) Program funding are required to submit an annual report to USAC using an Excel template (available for download on the USAC website) to supplement information collected in RHC Program application forms. The reports for funding year (FY) 2018 (July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019) are due September 30, 2019.

Who needs to submit the FY2018 Annual Report?

The FCC requires HCF consortia who received funding in FY2018 (July 1 2018 – June 30, 2019) to submit information to USAC about the telehealth applications used during the funding year.

The consortium leader must submit an annual report for each funding year in which the consortium received HCF support and for the life of a supported facility for which the consortium received large upfront payments.

How to Submit the FY2018 Annual Report

1. Download the HCF Program annual report template from our website
2. In the “Telehealth Services” tab, review the telehealth applications in column A and use the dropdown menu in column B to select “Yes” for each telehealth application for which the consortium received funding in FY2018.
3. Save the template with a file name that includes the consortium name and HCP number.
4. Email the completed template to RHC-assist@usac.org by September 30, 2019.
5. Failure to submit the required annual report(s) by the deadline may result in the denial of program funding.

About Annual Reports
Consortia must submit annual reports to help USAC and the FCC understand the progress made each year in meeting the program’s performance goals to:

• Increase broadband access for healthcare providers, particularly those serving rural areas;
• Maximize program cost-effectiveness.

9/11/2019 – Reminder: Upcoming Scheduled System Maintenance

9/6/2019 – News Brief Issued

9/5/2019 – Hurricane Dorian Impact on Customer Service

9/5/2019 – Hurricane Dorian Impact on the RHC Help Desk

9/5/2019 – RHC Program News for September 2019

Latest News

FCC Releases Report and Order: Promoting Telehealth in Rural America
On August 20, 2019, the Federal Communications Commission released a Report and Order reforming the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program to promote transparency and predictability, and to further the efficient allocation of limited program resources while guarding against waste, fraud, and abuse. More information is available on the USAC website and you can read the Report and Order here.  

For a summary of the upcoming changes, view the Report and Order web page or download the Report and Order Tip Sheet. A recording of the Report and Order Summary webinar will be available in the Online Learning Library in a few days. 

FY2018 Consortia Annual Reports Due September 30
Per Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) Program rules, all consortia receiving Rural Health Care (RHC) Program funding are required to submit an annual report to USAC using an Excel template (available for download on the USAC website) to supplement information collected in RHC Program application forms. The reports for FY2018 (July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019) are due September 30, 2019.

Who Needs to Submit the Annual Report? HCF Program consortia must submit an annual report for each funding year in which the consortium received HCF support and for the life of a supported facility for which the consortium received large upfront payments. 

For instructions on how to complete and submit the FY2018 Annual Report, please visit our website.

Letter of Agency (LOA) My Portal Enhancements
My Portal will no longer allow consortia leaders or account holders to submit forms on behalf of health care provider (HCP) sites with expired LOAs. Account holders of the consortia and their member HCPs will now receive automatic emails from My Portal when an LOA is about to expire and will be required to update any expired LOAs. For instructions on how to submit an updated LOA, view the LOA submission guide. 

Sign Up for the Consortia Best Practices Webinar on September 12 at 2:00 p.m. ET
This webinar is for those interested in forming a consortia and consortia account holders who are preparing for FY2020. The RHC Program team will go over general questions about forming and organizing a consortia and how to get ready for the Request for Services (FCC Forms 461) process. Register here! 

Coming Soon! RHC Website Updates
In mid-October, USAC will be updating its public website, and the RHC public website will also be refreshed. Our goal is to make information easier to find and understand for all applicants. Changes will include consolidating information and simplifying the content. Please note that current USAC website bookmarks will not work with the updated website. Don’t worry! We will send more information before the new website is launched, and training will be available once it is live.

Important Reminders

Third Party Authorizations (TPAs) Must Be Up to Date
In order to be considered eligible for funding in FY2019 TPAs must be up to date through FY2019, at a minimum. Be especially mindful if you are an HCP using a consultant. Before submitting a form, please check to ensure your authorization documents are up to date. FCC Forms submitted with expired TPAs will result in applicants receiving Information Requests. Download a Sample TPA.  

Account Holder Guidance
Now that the FY2019 filing window has closed, it is a great time to review your HCP’s account holders. USAC recommends having at least one secondary account holder per HCP. We’ve created guides for primary account holders with instructions for adding additional account holders in My Portal:

• Telecom Account Holder Guide
• Healthcare Connect Fund Account Holder Guide

What to do if You Receive an Information Request
FCC Forms submitted with incomplete or missing documentation will not be reviewed, and RHC reviewers will reach out to all account holders (the primary and all secondary and tertiary account holders associated with that HCP) with a request for additional information (“Information Request”). Information Requests are sent to collect any missing documentation, address deficiencies, or to ask clarifying questions about the FCC Form. If you receive an Information Request, you must respond to it within 14 calendar days. Failure to respond within the 14 calendar days will result in a denial of funding, so be sure to meet that deadline.

Information Request Tips for the Telecom Program

• Applicants can receive Telecom Information Requests through My Portal OR by email
• For Information Requests received through My Portal, applicants should respond through My Portal only
• For Information Requests received by email, applicants should “Reply All” to respond to the Information Request by email 
• Use Chrome/Firefox Only when using My Portal
• When uploading a document as a response, the document should be limited to 10MB and should not contain any special characters, only letters and numbers

Information Request Tips for the HCF Program

• Applicants that receive HCF Program Information Requests through email should “Reply All” to respond to an Information Request by email

FCC Form 460 Best Practice
During the submission of an FCC Form 460, we recommend that applicants upload any supporting documentation necessary to validate form data to the “Supporting Documentation” section. This includes any documentation that is relevant to the required fields of the FCC Form 460. Doing so creates additional visibility into the eligibility of the HCP and increases the chance of a faster review. A few examples include:

• Hospital licenses, with the address clearly posted, to verify a non-profit hospital
• A recent bill or lease, with the address clearly posted, to verify the HCP address provided on the FCC Form 460
• Public tax documents to verify the Non-Profit Tax ID (EIN)
• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) accreditation to verify a community health center

Please keep in mind that the FCC Form 460 review can take up to 30 days. You can submit your FCC Form 460 at any time during the funding year. 

Filing an Appeal
Any party that wishes to appeal a USAC decision must file an appeal with USAC within 60 days of the date when USAC issued the decision. All appeals must be sent to RHC-Appeals@usac.org. The following information must be included in the appeal:

• Applicant or service provider who is filing the appeal (i.e. HCP number, service provider’s 498 ID (SPIN))
• Contact information of the person who can discuss the appeal with USAC in detail  (include name, address, telephone number, and email address)
• Documentation of USAC's decision (e.g., copy of USAC's decision letter being appealed)
• Supporting documentation such as forms and previous correspondence with USAC
• A precise explanation of the relief sought through the appeal

USAC may reach out for additional information while reviewing your appeal, but failure to provide all of the information above within the 60 days may result in denial of your appeal.  Parties seeking a waiver of FCC rules (e.g., waiver of deadlines) should file an appeal directly with the FCC because USAC cannot waive FCC rules.  

For more information on filing appeals with USAC or the FCC, please visit the appeals page of the USAC website. 

Consortia Resources
HCF Program applicants who may be interested in forming a consortia can download three new resources to help them get started:

• Consortia Getting Started Tip Sheet
• Forming a Consortium Tip Sheet
• FCC Form 461 and 462 Tip Sheet for Consortia

8/31/2019 – Resolved: Lifeline Support Center Calls Disrupted

This morning the Lifeline Support Center experienced technical difficulties that may have prevented callers from reaching support staff by phone. USAC quickly identified the issue and it has been resolved. Full connectivity is restored. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

8/30/2019 – News Brief Issued

8/30/2019 – Register for the FCC Report and Order 19-78 Informational Webinar

8/30/2019 – Lifeline Program August Newsletter

National Verifier Progress – System Updates

National Verifier Carrier Eligibility API

USAC has begun development of an application programming interface (API) for the National Verifier that would permit service providers to interface directly with the National Verifier to conduct eligibility checks and receive eligibility result responses. This enhancement will allow service providers to better integrate the National Verifier with their own online enrollment systems and processes, while still maintaining program integrity.

This month, USAC hosted discussions with service providers who use the NLAD API to ensure they have an opportunity to learn about the tool and provide their feedback on the implementation. We look forward to continuing conversations with service providers as development of the carrier API moves forward. USAC anticipates that the technical specifications will be available and that initial testing will begin this fall.

For more information on the carrier API, join our September monthly webinar.

September Monthly Webinar: National Verifier Carrier Eligibility API

Join us on Wednesday, September 18 for our next Lifeline Program webinar. During this webinar, we will discuss the status of the National Verifier Carrier Eligibility API. We will give an overview of how the National Verifier works for service providers today and how the carrier eligibility API aims to improve the experience. We will also provide a high-level walk through of the API functionality and set timeline expectations. Following the presentation, we will take provider questions.

This session is designed for service providers and Lifeline stakeholders in all states and territories. You can access the slides and recordings from previous webinars on our Learn: Webinars page.

Representative Accountability Database (RAD) Timeline

The Representative Accountability Database (RAD) is now available for use.  Full implementation of RAD is intended, with timelines currently under review. At this time, registration is voluntary. To ensure a smooth transition, enrollment representatives are encouraged to obtain a unique Representative ID now, well before a Representative ID is required by USAC systems. We pledge to share updates, including when a Representative ID is required, as they become available.

For more information on RAD, you can find resources on the Lifeline RAD and training on the Lifeline Learn page.

Recertification Reminder
For USAC Elected Service Providers and Those in National Verifier States

In April 2019, USAC transitioned to a daily batching process for subscribers undergoing annual recertification that are part of the USAC-Elected process (in states where the National Verifier has not launched) or National Verifier recertification processes.

Recertification Overview:

• Recertification begins 90 days before a subscriber’s anniversary date in the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD). 
• Recertification checks will be conducted every day, and 60-day recertification windows will be initiated every business day.
• Consumers, who are scheduled for recertification, have a 60-day window to successfully recertify their Lifeline benefit using one of the three recertification methods – paper forms, Interactive Voice Response (IVR) or online.
• Service providers will be able to see which subscribers are currently undergoing recertification via the Recertification Subscriber Status Report, which is available in NLAD.

If a subscriber does not successfully recertify, USAC will notify the subscriber via mail within 2-3 business days and they will be automatically de-enrolled from NLAD five (5) business days after the conclusion of their recertification window.  After the de-enrollment has occurred, NLAD will send an automated email to notify the service provider and the Failed Recertification De-Enroll Report will be updated.

Please be advised that only the ETC Administrator user role in NLAD will receive the automated de-enrollment notices. USAC is actively working with our IT team to see if additional users can be added to recertification de-enrollment notices in the future.

Recertification Enhancements for Consumers in National Verifier States

With recent enhancements to the National Verifier consumer portal, consumers in hard launch states will be able see their recertification status once logged into the portal. From this window, consumers will also be able to complete any pending recertifications.

8/29/2019 – Upcoming National Verifier Maintenance

8/23/2019 – News Brief Issued

8/21/2019 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: August 25-26

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and the EPC training site will be unavailable from Sunday, August 25 at 7:00 p.m EDT through Monday, August 26 at 1:00 a.m. EDT for monthly system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use EPC. We apologize for any inconvenience.

8/21/2019 – UPDATE: Upcoming Scheduled System Maintenance

8/20/2019 – Legacy System Outage Due to System Maintenance - August 21

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems will be unavailable from 9:00-10:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, August 21 for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to file invoices and use some of the search tools. The BEAR training site will also be unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

NOTE: The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will not be affected by this maintenance.

8/16/2019 – News Brief Issued

8/14/2019 – Lifeline Monthly Webinar Rescheduled

The Lifeline August Monthly Webinar has been rescheduled from Wednesday, August 14, 2019 to Wednesday, August 21, 2019 due to a webianr platform system outage. 

Participants do ot need to re-register for the webinar - the  previou registration will roll over to next week.  If you did not registar for today's webianr and would like to join the rescheduled event, you can register here.  

We apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to engaging with you on August 21.

8/9/2019 – News Brief Issued

8/2/2019 – News Brief Issued

8/2/2019 – 2019 Service Provider Training - Week of August 5

USAC’s annual service provider trainings will take place at USAC’s office located at 700 12th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005 the week of August 5, 2019. For those of you joining us at USAC next week, here are a few reminders to help you prepare for the training.

• Half-Day Beginners Training - Monday, August 5 and Thursday August 8: 12:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.
  These identical, half-day afternoon trainings are specifically for beginner participants who want the very basics of the program.
• Full-Day General Training - Tuesday, August 6 and Friday, August 9: 9:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
  These identical, full-day trainings are designed for participants of all proficiency levels.

Registration: Please bring a photo ID. The name on USAC’s registration records must match the name of the person who attends the training. We are at full capacity and will not be able to accommodate walk-in registrations.

Check-in Process:

1. Enter the 12th Street lobby at 700 12th St. NW, Washington, DC 20005.
2. Go to the security desk in the building lobby to receive your security pass. 
3. A USAC representative by the elevators will guide you to the training event.
4. Go to the registration desk in USAC's lobby to check in and receive your name badge and training agenda. 
   

NOTE: If you are attending two days of training, you will need to check in with USAC and receive a security pass at the beginning of each day.

Download the Training Materials: Training materials are available on our website. We will be paperless again this year, and will not have printouts. Please plan accordingly.

Food: Attendees should make their own arrangements for meals. USAC will provide recommendations for nearby breakfast and lunch options within short walking distance, of which there are many.

We look forward to seeing you next week. For more information on our 2019 training events, please reference our 2019 Service Provider & Applicant Trainings page.

8/2/2019 – FCC Issues Public Notice on Draft ESL for FY2020

On August 2, 2019, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice (DA 19-738) establishing the comment period for the Funding Year (FY) 2020 Eligible Services List (ESL). Comments on the draft ESL, which is attached to the Public Notice, are due to the FCC on or before September 3, 2019. Reply comments are due to the FCC on or before September 18, 2019. For information on filing comments with the FCC, please refer to the Public Notice.

8/2/2019 – FCC Adopts Draft Report and Order: Promoting Telehealth in Rural America

On August 1, 2019, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a Report and Order that reforms the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program to make the distribution of limited program funds more efficient and equitable, provide predictability and transparency for health care and service providers, and strengthen program safeguards against waste, fraud, and abuse. The reforms include changes to the distribution of funding the Telecommunications Program to promote efficiency and reduce incentives that encourage waste, fraud, and abuse. 

The reforms also target funding to rural areas most in need of health care services by: (1) prioritizing support based on rurality and whether the area is medically underserved when demand exceeds available funding; and (2) increasing the majority-rural requirement for Healthcare Connect Fund consortia each year that funding must be prioritized due to lack of available funding.  The FCC also adopted a series of Program-wide rules and procedures to simplify the application process for program participants and make the administration of the RHC Program more transparent and predicable.

Before the meeting, the FCC released a draft of the Report and Order here. 

Read more about the Order's changes to the program here. 

We will provide additional information about the Report and Order, including how changes to the current rules will be implemented, once the adopted Report and Order is released.  In the meantime, you may submit questions to the RHC Help Desk at RHC-Assist@usac.org.

8/2/2019 – RHC Newsletter for August 2019

FCC Adopts Draft Report and Order: Promoting Telehealth in Rural America
On August 1, 2019, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a Report and Order that reforms the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program to make the distribution of limited program funds more efficient and equitable, provide predictability and transparency for health care and service providers, and strengthen program safeguards against waste, fraud, and abuse. The reforms include changes to the distribution of funding the Telecommunications Program to promote efficiency and reduce incentives that encourage waste, fraud, and abuse. 

The reforms also target funding to rural areas most in need of health care services by: (1) prioritizing support based on rurality and whether the area is medically underserved when demand exceeds available funding; and (2) increasing the majority-rural requirement for Healthcare Connect Fund consortia each year that funding must be prioritized due to lack of available funding.  The FCC also adopted a series of Program-wide rules and procedures to simplify the application process for program participants and make the administration of the RHC Program more transparent and predicable.

Before the meeting, the FCC released a draft of the Report and Order here. 

We will provide additional information about the Report and Order, including how changes to the current rules will be implemented, once the adopted Report and Order is released.  In the meantime, you may submit questions to the RHC Help Desk at RHC-Assist@usac.org.

New! Initial RHC Program Data Set Available Now!
 We are very excited to announce the posting of the first RHC Program Dataset to the USAC Open Data Portal. The dataset contains data from the FCC Forms 462 and 466 about funding decisions, and total committed/disbursed amounts for past funding years. In the open data portal you are able to filter, sort, and visualize the data in many different ways. Watch a quick demonstration of a data visualization here.

Coming Soon! Letter of Agency (LOA) My Portal Functionality Enhancements
Within the next few weeks, My Portal will no longer allow consortia leaders to submit forms on behalf of health care provider (HCP) sites with expired LOAs. Account holders of the consortia will now receive automatic emails from My Portal when an LOA is about to expire. An updated LOA must be submitted before any FCC Forms can be submitted in My Portal. For instructions on how to submit an updated LOA, view the LOA submission guide.

Training Dates Announced
 In August and September, the RHC Program will host two online trainings for applicants:

• August 14 at 2:00 p.m. ET– FY2019 Applicant Webinar: This webinar is for account holders who submitted FY2019 Funding Request forms (FCC Forms 462 and 466); it will include information on what to expect after form submission, best practices for information requests, and common applicant questions. Register here!
• August 21 at 2:00 p.m. ET - Service Provider Training:  This webinar is for service providers and will cover best practices in the HCF and Telecom Programs. Register here!
• September 12 at 2:00 p.m. ET – Consortia Best Practices for FY2020: This webinar is for those interested in forming a consortia and consortia account holders who are preparing for FY2020. The RHC Program team will go over general questions about forming and organizing a consortia and how to get ready for the Request for Services (FCC Forms 461 and 465) process. Register here!

?Coming Soon! RHC Website Updates
In mid-October, RHC will be refreshing the content on the RHC public website, usac.org/rhc. Our goal is to make information easier to find and understand for all applicants, and changes will include consolidating information and simplifying the content. Don’t worry! We will share more information about any changes before they happen. 

Important Reminders

Account Holder Guidance
Now that the FY2019 application filing window has closed, it is a great time to review your HCP’s account holders. USAC recommends having at least one secondary account holder per HCP. We’ve created guides for primary account holders with instructions for adding additional account holders in My Portal:

• Telecom Account Holder Guide 
• Healthcare Connect Fund Account Holder Guide

What to Do if You Receive an Information Request
USAC cannot complete their review of FCC Forms submitted with incomplete or missing documentation, and RHC reviewers will reach out to all account holders (the primary and all secondary and tertiary account holders associated with that HCP) with a request for additional information (“Information Request”). Information Requests are sent to collect any missing documentation, address deficiencies, or to ask clarifying questions about the FCC Form. If you receive an Information Request, you must respond to it within 14 calendar days. Failure to respond within the 14 calendar day timeframe will result in a denial of funding, so be sure to meet that deadline.

Information Request Tips for the Telecom Program

• Applicants can receive Telecom Information Requests through My Portal OR by email
• For Information Requests received through My Portal, applicants should respond through My Portal only
• For email Information Requests, applicants should “Reply All” to respond to the Information Request
• Use Chrome/Firefox Only when using My Portal
• When uploading a document as a response, the document should be limited to 10MB, and the document name should not contain any special characters, only letters and numbers

Information Request Tips for the HCF Program

• Applicants receive HCF Program Information Requests through email and should “Reply All” to respond to the Information Request. 

FCC Form 460 Best Practice
During the submission of an FCC Form 460 (HCF Eligibility and Registration Form), we recommend that applicants upload any supporting documentation necessary to validate form data to the “Supporting Documentation” section. This includes any documentation that is relevant to the required fields of the FCC Form 460. Doing so creates additional visibility into the HCP and increases the chance of a faster review. A few examples include:

• Hospital licenses, with the address clearly posted, to verify a non-profit hospital
• A recent bill or lease, with the address clearly posted, to verify the HCP address provided on the FCC Form 460
• Public tax documents to verify the Non-Profit Tax ID (EIN)
• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) accreditation to verify a community health center

Please keep in mind that the FCC Form 460 review can take up to 30 days. You can submit your FCC Form 460 at any time during the funding year.

Filing an Appeal
Any party that wishes to appeal a USAC decision must file an appeal with USAC within 60 days of the date when USAC issued the decision. All appeals must be sent to RHC-Appeals@usac.org.  The following information must be included in the appeal:

• Applicant or service provider who is filing the appeal (i.e. HCP number, service provider’s 498 ID (SPIN))
• Contact information of the person who can discuss the appeal with USAC in detail  (include name, address, telephone number, and email address)
• Documentation of USAC's decision (e.g., copy of USAC's decision letter being appealed)
• Supporting documentation such as forms and previous correspondence with USAC
• A precise explanation of the resolution sought through the appeal

USAC may reach out for additional information while reviewing your appeal, but failure to provide all of the information above within the 60 days may result in denial of your appeal. Parties seeking a waiver of FCC rules (e.g., waiver of deadlines) should file an appeal directly with the Commission as USAC cannot waive FCC rules.  For more information on filing appeals with USAC or the FCC, please visit the appeals page of the USAC website or contact us.

Consortia Resources
HCF Program applicants who may be interested in forming a consortia can download three new resources to help them get started:

• Consortia Getting Started Tip Sheet
• Forming a Consortium Tip Sheet
• FCC Form 461 and 462 Tip Sheet for Consortia

7/31/2019 – Upcoming Scheduled System Maintenance

Scheduled System Maintenance Tuesday, August 6

The National Verifier’s production environment will be unavailable for use starting Tuesday, August 6 from 8 p.m. until midnight ET.
 
During this maintenance window, users of NLAD’s National Verifier workflow will not be able to enroll, transfer, or update subscriber information in NLAD’s production environment. NLAD UI and API users can continue to access reports and perform de-enrollments during this time.

7/30/2019 – Lifeline Program July Newsletter

Representative Accountability Database (RAD) Updates

Beginning Tuesday, July 16, service providers were able to begin linking Representative IDs to accounts in the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) pre-production environment. Service providers should use the test Representative IDs to practice linking a Representative ID to existing and new user accounts.

In addition, service providers can test changes to the NLAD in the pre-production environment. These changes include:

• The errors they or their subaccount users would experience when trying to submit a transaction with an inactive Representative ID;
• The ability for API users to submit API transactions with a Representative ID. Transactions now include additional API fields to associate Representative IDs with individual NLAD transactions in pre-production;
• Testing for the batch upload process, with the new fields noted above, will also be available.

Service providers can request the revised API Specifications (with the subject line RAD - NLAD API Specs) and/or batch file template (with the subject line RAD – Batch File) by contacting LifelineSupport@usac.org.

For more information on how to link existing and new user accounts to a Representative ID, review the July monthly webinar and attend our next Lifeline Program webinar on August 14.

National Verifier: New Enhancements Coming in August

USAC is excited to introduce new enhancements to the National Verifier (NV). The August 2019 updates focus on providing more visibility and accessibility to Service Providers and Consumers.

Improvements to the Application Visibility and Accessibility

The National Verifier will now:

• Show recertifications to consumers from NV states on their consumer landing page
• Provide information on the portal around when reverification applications will expire
• Allow consumers who qualify through income to provide their household size while waiting for an eligibility response from a batch state
• Allow consumers who have selected to view the portal in Spanish to print a Spanish application form
  
  

Recertifications on the Consumer Landing Page

Consumers from NV states going through the annual recertification process will now be able to log in to their consumer account and access their recertification forms on their consumer landing page.

In addition to the recertification forms, a consumer will now be able to see their recertification status.

• If the consumer has not yet submitted a recertification form, a “Not Yet Recertified” status will appear.
• If the consumer has successfully submitted recertification forms a “Recertified” status will be shown on the consumer landing page.
• Recertification forms that are no longer active will display with an “Expired” status.
• Forms that have been closed out will display with a “Closed” status.

Please note that consumers with open recertification forms will not be able to submit a qualification form.


Updated Batch Process: Allowing Applicants to Provide Household Size For Consumers who Qualify through Income and are in a Pending Batch Decision Status

Lifeline applications submitted in batch states (NC, TN, MO, and KY) that fail the federal data source check receive a “Pending Batch Decision” status. The applicant then waits 1-3 days to receive an eligibility response from the state.  Under the prior workflow, users could upload documents for all errors, including eligibility, but could not provide their household size if they qualify for Lifeline through income.

In August 2019, consumers in “Pending Batch Decision” status will be able to provide their household size when uploading eligibility documentation if they qualify through income.


Spanish Applications on the Portal

Consumers who choose to access the National Verifier portal in Spanish will be able to download and print Spanish paper application forms that can be mailed to the Lifeline Support Center. Spanish forms can be accessed by toggling to Spanish and then selecting the paper form link on the public landing page or the consumer login page.

Learn More

These and other enhancements will be introduced on August 7, 2019. Information on this release, as well as past releases is available on USAC's website.

Reminder: Lifeline Program Consumer Advocate Training

The federal Lifeline Program provides low-income consumers with a monthly discount on their phone or internet service. This is an important benefit that helps consumers stay connected to family, work, education, and health services.

With the implementation of the National Verifier, an innovative tool that allows consumers to apply directly for the Lifeline benefit, consumer information is verified against state and federal data connections, which normally results in a quicker eligibility decision and provides more ways for a consumer to apply (such as through a service provider, through the consumer portal, or via mail).

To educate social service agents, caseworkers, and other advocates on the Lifeline program, the National Verifier, and how to help their clients enroll, USAC is hosting a Consumer Advocate Training on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET. You and other interested consumer advocates can register for the training here.

Webinar on August 14: Representative Accountability Database (RAD) Office Hours 

Join us on Wednesday, August 14, for our next Lifeline Program webinar. The topic is the Representative Accountability Database (RAD). This will be in an Office Hours format. We will provide a general refresher on the RAD and an opportunity for service providers to ask questions. This session is designed for service providers and Lifeline stakeholders in all states and territories.

If you have specific questions for this webinar, please email them to Lifelineprogram@usac.org.

You can access the slides and recordings from previous webinars on our Learn: Webinars page.

7/26/2019 – Legacy System Outage

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems are temporarily unavailable. During this time, users may experience intermittent system issues and may be unable to file invoices and use some of the search tools. We apologize for any inconvenience.

NOTE: The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) is not affected by this outage.

7/26/2019 – News Brief Issued

7/25/2019 – WCB Announces Updates to Lifeline Minimum Service Standards and Indexed Budget Amount

On July 25, 2019, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announced the updated minimum service standards for speed and usage allowances for Lifeline-supported services as required by the 2016 Lifeline Order. The 2016 Lifeline Order established minimum service standards for certain Lifeline-supported services and either established annual increases in those standards in the Commission’s rules or directed the Bureau to update the minimum service standards pursuant to calculations set out in the Order and the Commission’s rules.   

The newly calculated minimum service standards for fixed and mobile broadband will take effect on December 1, 2019.

Minimum service standards beginning December 1,2019:

• Fixed broadband minimum service standards
  Speed: 20/3 Mbps, or at least 4/1 Mbps
  Usage Allowance: 1024 GB

• Mobile broadband minimum service standards
  Speed:3G or better
  Usage Allowance: 8.75 GB
  
• Mobile voice telephony minimum service standard
  Unchanged - 1000 Minutes
  
  

7/25/2019 – Legacy System Outage Due to System Maintenance: July 26-27

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems will be unavailable from 9:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, July 26 through 9:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday, July 27 for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to file invoices and use some of the search tools. The BEAR training site will also be unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

7/24/2019 – WCB Announces Conditional Forbearance From the Lifeline Voice Obligation

On July 22, 2019, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announced the counties in which conditional forbearance from the obligation to offer Lifeline-supported voice service applies, pursuant to the Commission’s 2016 Lifeline Order.This forbearance applies only to the Lifeline voice obligation of eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) that are designated for purposes of receiving both high-cost and Lifeline support (high-cost/Lifeline ETCs), and not to Lifeline-only ETCs.

The Public Notice DA-19-689 lists the counties where the Commission’s conditional forbearance from high-cost/Lifeline ETCs’ Lifeline voice obligation will apply effectively on September 21, 2019.

For more details regarding conditional forberance, please visit the FCC’s website.

7/24/2019 – Resolved: E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: July 26

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and the EPC training site is back online. Thank you for your patience. 

7/24/2019 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: July 28-29

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and the EPC training site will be unavailable from Sunday, July 28 at 7:00 p.m EDT through Monday, July 29 at 1:00 a.m. EDT for monthly system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use EPC. We apologize for any inconvenience.

7/24/2019 – Reminder: Upcoming Scheduled System Maintenance

Reminder: Scheduled  System Maintenance, July 26

The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD), National Verifier, and Lifeline Claims System (LCS) will be unavailable due to scheduled system maintenance starting on Friday, July 26 from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. ET. 

NLAD, National Verifier, and LCS pre-production and production environments will not be available for use during this time.

7/23/2019 – Initial RHC Program Open Dataset Available Now!

7/19/2019 – EPC Training Site Funding Year Schedule

Trainers and other program participants can use USAC's E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) training site to practice filing forms, learn how to navigate the system, and train new users – all without affecting actual information and settings in the EPC production site. 

USAC is currently in the process of expanding the training site offerings to include consortium accounts and accounts that allow the FCC Form 486 to be filed. We must periodically reset the training site to Funding Year (FY) 2019 to accomplish this. 

Starting today, the EPC training site will be reset to FY2019 each week from 9:00 a.m. EDT Friday morning to 9:00 a.m. EDT Monday morning until further notice. When we are not working on creating FCC Form 486 filers, the training site will be reset to FY2020.

If you would like to conduct training or practice filing FY2020 FCC Forms 470, please schedule your training activities for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.

For more information on using the training site with the functionality that is currently available, you can refer to the EPC Training Site page.

7/19/2019 – News Brief Issued

7/17/2019 – Representative Accountability Database (RAD) Updates

Changes to NLAD Pre-Production

Beginning today, Wednesday, July 17, service providers may begin linking Representative IDs to accounts in the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) pre-production environment. Service providers should use the test Representative IDs provided by USAC to test linking a Representative ID to existing and new user accounts in pre-production. An NLAD Pre-Production Guide for Linking Representative IDs to Test Accounts, which includes the test Representative IDs, is available on USAC's website.

For questions about the NLAD Pre-Production Guide for Linking Representative IDs to Test Accounts, email LifelineSupport@usac.org with the subject line RAD - NLAD PreProd Guide.

Looking Ahead

Additional changes related to the continuing implementation of RAD will be available the week of July 29.

1. Any new account created in the production environment will require a Representative ID.
2. Service providers may begin linking a Representative ID to existing accounts in the production environment.
3. Service providers may use the pre-production environment for testing the validations and errors related to a Representative ID during NLAD transactions. For example, service providers may test the errors that they would receive when trying to perform an enrollment with an account linked to a locked Representative ID. Services providers will also be able to test any errors that they could receive during an API or batch transaction related to the two new Representative ID fields.
   

• With this release, service providers will receive an error when attempting a transaction in the pre-production environment that does not have a Representative ID linked.
• Service providers who have yet to do so can request the revised API Specifications by contacting LifelineSupport@usac.org with the subject line RAD - NLAD API Specs. The revised subscriber batch file template is available on the RAD Resources page.
  

Upcoming RAD Office Hours

USAC is hosting RAD Office Hours today, Wednesday, July 17 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET. Service providers will receive a high-level overview of content previously discussed in training and have the opportunity to submit questions. Register for the upcoming office hours here.

For more information on RAD, visit USAC's RAD pages. 

7/12/2019 – News Brief Issued

7/12/2019 – FCC Issues NPRM on Category Two Budgets

The FCC has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) (FCC 19-58, released July 9, 2019) that proposes to make the Category Two budget approach permanent, and also seeks comment on potential modifications that could simplify the budgets, decrease the administrative burden of applying for Category Two services, and thereby speed the deployment of Wi-Fi in schools and libraries across the country.

Comments on the NPRM are due 30 days after the publication of the NPRM in the Federal Register. Reply comments are due 45 days after publication of the NPRM in the Federal Register. To submit comments, follow the instructions in the Filing Comments and Reply Comments paragraph in the NPRM.

7/11/2019 – FCC Releases Draft Report and Order: Promoting Telehealth in America

7/11/2019 – FCC Seeks Comment On Proposed Connected Care Pilot Program

On July 11, 2019 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed to establish a three-year, $100 million Connected Care Pilot program that would support bringing telehealth services directly to low-income patients and veterans.

The proposed Connected Care Pilot would provide an 85% discount on connectivity for broadband-enabled telehealth services that connect patients directly to their doctors and are used to treat a wide range of health conditions. These services can facilitate the effective treatment of chronic conditions outside of the doctor’s office, at significant savings for patients and health care providers.

The proposed Pilot program would not divert resources from the existing Rural Health Care Program or any existing universal service fund programs. Instead, it is proposed that USAC would be required to separately collect on a quarterly basis the funds needed for the duration of the Pilot program

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeks comment on testing a new program, using the FCC’s existing Rural Health Care Program authority that would defray the costs of purchasing broadband Internet access service necessary for providing connected care services directly to low-income patients and veterans.

Read the NPRM here. 

7/10/2019 – Legacy System Outage Due to System Maintenance - July 11

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems will be unavailable from 9:00-11:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday, July 11 for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to file invoices and use some of the search tools. The BEAR training site will also be unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

NOTE: The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will not be affected by this maintenance.

7/3/2019 – RHC Newsletter for July 2019

Latest News

FY2019 Application Filing Window Closed
Thank you to all program participants who submitted forms for Funding Year 2019 (FY2019)! The FY2019 application filing window has now closed, and no additional funding request forms will be accepted. Your feedback and continued dedication to the program is always appreciated, and we look forward to working with all of you to continuously improve the RHC Program.

Coming Soon! RHC Website Updates
Over the next few months, RHC will be refreshing the content on the RHC public website, usac.org/rhc. Our goal is to make information easier to find and understand for all applicants, and changes will include consolidating information and simplifying the content. Don’t worry! We will share more information about any changes before they happen. 

Important Reminders

Account Holder Guidance
Now that the FY2019 application filing window has closed, it is a great time to review your health care provider's (HCP’s) account holders. USAC recommends having at least one secondary account holder per HCP. We’ve created guides for primary account holders with instructions for adding additional account holders in My Portal:

• Telecom Account Holder Guide 
• Healthcare Connect Fund Account Holder Guide

What to Do if You Receive an Information Request
USAC cannot complete their review of FCC Forms submitted with incomplete or missing documentation, and RHC reviewers will reach out to all account holders (the primary and all secondary and tertiary account holders associated with that HCP) with a request for additional information (“Information Request”). Information Requests are sent to collect any missing documentation, address deficiencies, or to ask clarifying questions about the FCC Form. If you receive an Information Request, you must respond to it within 14 calendar days. Failure to respond within the 14 calendar day timeframe will result in a denial of funding, so be sure to meet that deadline.

Information Request Tips for the Telecom Program

• Applicants can receive Telecom Information Requests through My Portal OR by email
• For Information Requests received through My Portal, applicants should respond through My Portal only
• For email Information Requests, applicants should “Reply All” to respond to the Information Request
• Use Chrome/Firefox Only when using My Portal
• When uploading a document as a response, the document should be limited to 10MB, and the document name should not contain any special characters, only letters and numbers

Information Request Tips for the HCF Program

• Applicants that receive HCF Program Information Requests through email and should “Reply All” to respond to the Information Request. 

FCC Form 460 Best Practice
During the submission of an FCC Form 460 (HCF Eligibility and Registration Form), we recommend that applicants upload any supporting documentation necessary to validate form data to the “Supporting Documentation” section. This includes any documentation that is relevant to the required fields of the FCC Form 460. Doing so creates additional visibility into the HCP and increases the chance of a faster review. A few examples include:

• Hospital licenses, with the address clearly posted, to verify a non-profit hospital
• A recent bill or lease, with the address clearly posted, to verify the HCP address provided on the FCC Form 460
• Public tax documents to verify the Non-Profit Tax ID (EIN)
• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) accreditation to verify a community health center

Please keep in mind that the FCC Form 460 review can take up to 30 days. You can submit your FCC Form 460 at any time during the funding year.

Filing an Appeal
Any party that wishes to appeal a USAC decision must file an appeal with USAC within 60 days of the date when USAC issued the decision. All appeals must be sent to RHC-Appeals@usac.org.  The following information must be included in the appeal:

• Applicant or service provider who is filing the appeal (i.e. HCP number, service provider’s 498 ID (SPIN))
• Contact information of the person who can discuss the appeal with USAC in detail  (include name, address, telephone number, and email address)
• Documentation of USAC's decision (e.g., copy of USAC's decision letter being appealed)
• Supporting documentation such as forms and previous correspondence with USAC
• A precise explanation of the resolution sought through the appeal

USAC may reach out for additional information while reviewing your appeal, but failure to provide all of the information above within the 60 days may result in denial of your appeal. Parties seeking a waiver of FCC rules (e.g., waiver of deadlines) should file an appeal directly with the Commission as USAC cannot waive FCC rules.  For more information on filing appeals with USAC or the FCC, please visit the appeals page of the USAC website or contact us.

Consortia Resources
HCF Program applicants who may be interested in forming a consortia can download three new resources to help them get started:

• Consortia Getting Started Tip Sheet
• Forming a Consortium Tip Sheet
• FCC Form 461 and 462 Tip Sheet for Consortia

LOA/TPAs Must be Up to Date
In order to be considered eligible for funding in FY2019, Letters of Agency (LOA) and Third Party Authorizations (TPA) must be up to date through FY2019, at a minimum. Be especially mindful if you are an HCP using a consultant, a consortium leader, or a consultant filing on behalf of a consortium leader. Before submitting a form, please check to ensure your authorization documents are up to date. FCC Forms 462 and 466 submitted with expired LOAs or TPAs will result in applicants receiving Information Requests.

• Download a Sample TPA or Sample LOA

7/2/2019 – Lifeline Program June Newsletter

National Verifier Fully Launches in March 2019 Launch States

The National Verifier fully launched in Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan on Tuesday, June 11, 2019.
 
Service providers in these states are now required to use the National Verifier to check the eligibility of all Lifeline applicants before enrolling them into the Lifeline program. Consumers in these states can apply for Lifeline directly through the National Verifier online consumer portal or by mailing a paper application to the Lifeline Support Center.

National Verifier Soft Launches in 11 Additional States – June 2019 Soft Launch

The National Verifier soft launched in the following states on Tuesday, June 25.

• Arizona
• Connecticut
• Georgia
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New York
• Vermont
• Virginia
• West Virginia

Service providers in the June 2019 soft launch states can initiate eligibility checks using the National Verifier service provider portal or by sending paper forms  and eligibility documentation to the Lifeline Support Center.
 
During the soft launch period, service providers can continue using their legacy eligibility checking procedures if they choose. Training opportunities for this launch can be found on USAC’s website.

June 2019 Enhancements Live in National Verifier on June 25

On Tuesday, June 25, USAC released new enhancements to the National Verifier portal. The June 2019 updates focus on streamlining the application workflow, including address verification.
 
Additional details regarding the National Verifier v7.0 Production Release Notes for the June 2019 enhancements can be found on USAC's website.
 
To learn more about Lifeline and the National Verifier, visit USAC's National Verifier page.

Program Integrity Efforts and Reminders

Though USAC tries to minimize documentation requests for audit, Program Quality Assurance (PQA), and Program Integrity reviews whenever possible, service providers may still receive multiple documentation requests from USAC for the various audit and program integrity reviews. To better understand USAC’s program integrity efforts and the difference between program integrity reviews, beneficiary audits, and PQAs, review USAC’s Program Integrity page.

The best way to prepare for any program integrity request is to ensure that you are following Lifeline’s program document retention requirements. Lifeline service providers are required to keep records of their compliance with all state and FCC rules (47 C.F.R. §§ 54.417, 54.410).

Service providers that do business in states where the National Verifier has not yet launched (that are still handling eligibility determinations) and service providers electing to use their legacy eligibility determination processes in states where the National Verifier has soft launched are responsible for determining consumer eligibility and must have paper or electronic copies of their consumer’s application packet, including:

• Application forms and proof of eligibility, and
• Household worksheet, ID, and/or proof of address (if applicable).

Service providers must keep the required documentation for as long as the subscriber receives Lifeline service from that service provider, but for no less than the three full preceding calendar years.

Service providers are responsible for complying with the document retention requirements established in 47 C.F.R. § 54.410.

For more information on documentation requirements, review sections 54.410 and 54.417 of the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) here.

Reminder: June NLAD Release

Updates to BQP Information

As of Thursday, June 13, any changes to Benefit Qualifying Person (BQP) information require a de-enroll and re-enroll. If a Lifeline consumer needs to edit, remove, or add BQP information, they will need to:

1. Inform their service provider so that their service provider can de-enroll them,
2. Re-apply with the updated BQP information, and
3. Inform their service provider once they have successfully re-applied.

Once notified, their service provider can re-enroll them in the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD). Please note this change applies to all BQP information, regardless of if the consumer applied through the National Verifier or legacy workflow.

Changes to NLAD Address Field

After receiving feedback from service providers, USAC has updated the mailing address field for consumers in NLAD. With this release, service providers can input a general delivery address for a consumer into the mailing address field.  USAC is committed to collecting the best information possible to ensure all consumers receive timely notification of recertification, reverification, and other Lifeline Program processes.

You can review the “Mailing Address” field below.

Representative Accountability Database (RAD) Reminders

Phase 1 Implementation: Adoption Period

On Tuesday, June 25, USAC launched the Representative Accountability Database (RAD). The first phase of implementation, or the Adoption Period, opens the registration process for existing service provider representatives to start registering for their Representative IDs. In preparation for the Adoption Period, USAC hosted a RAD Registration training during the June monthly webinar. You can review the slide deck on the Lifeline Learn page.

Phase 2 Implementation: Linking Accounts

The next phase of the RAD Adoption Period is expected to begin in late July. At that time, any new account created for accessing the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) or the National Verifier will require a Representative ID. Service providers will also have the opportunity to begin linking a Representative ID to existing accounts. More information on how service providers link Representative IDs to a representative’s NLAD and National Verifier accounts will be included in the July monthly webinar.

Service providers should begin planning to incorporate these changes into their business processes in anticipation of the full launch of RAD in fourth quarter 2019.

NLAD API Specification Changes

Beginning in fourth quarter 2019, transactions submitted to the National Verifier and NLAD will be associated with a Representative ID. The NLAD API Specifications will be updated to account for this change. To receive the revised NLAD API Specification, email LifelineSupport@usac.org with the subject line: RAD - NLAD API Specs.

Please note that only service providers that use the NLAD API will need the updated NLAD API Specifications.

July Monthly Webinar: The Representative Accountability Database (RAD): Linking Accounts

Join us on Wednesday, July 10, for our next Lifeline Program webinar. During this webinar, we will discuss the second phase of the RAD implementation. We will give an overview of the system and discuss the process to link Representative IDs to respective service providers. Once we share our material, we will take provider questions.

This session is designed for service providers and Lifeline stakeholders in all states and territories. You can access the slides and recordings from previous webinars on our Learn: Webinars page.

6/28/2019 – News Brief Issued

6/27/2019 – Extended FY2019 Filing Window Closes this Sunday

6/26/2019 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: June 30-July 1

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and the EPC training site will be unavailable from Sunday, June 30 at 7:00 p.m EDT through Monday, July 1 at 1:00 a.m. EDT for monthly system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use EPC. We apologize for any inconvenience.

6/25/2019 – RAD Launches Today, Tuesday, June 25

RAD Adoption Period Open Today

Beginning today, Tuesday, June 25, representatives can register for a Representative ID by going to LifelineRAD.org. Representatives can access the RAD website, where they will go to self-register, via USAC’s website.

For more information on the Representative Accountability Database (RAD) registration process:

• Review the RAD: Registration and Linking Accounts slide deck
• Watch USAC’s training video on the registration process
  
• Learn about the RAD Adoption Period 

6/25/2019 – USAC Seeks Contractor for RHC Business and Operations Assessment

The Universal Service Administrative Company is seeking a contractor to conduct a business process and systems requirements analysis that would ensure that RHC application systems meet the needs of the Rural Health Care business. As a part of this project USAC also expects the Contractor to conduct an operational assessment of the program, and make a recommendation on the potential for optimizing the program activities through alternatives such as outsourcing or out tasking.

Read more about the procurement here.  

6/25/2019 – National Verifier and NLAD Systems Notification

6/24/2019 – USAC Announces RAD

RAD Adoption Period Opens Tomorrow

The Representative Accountability Database (RAD) will launch tomorrow, Tuesday, June 25. Beginning June 25, the RAD Adoption Period will open, allowing representatives who perform Lifeline enrollments and other related transactions to register for their Representative ID. USAC will send a bulletin tomorrow notifying service providers that the link to the RAD website, where representatives will go to self-register, is live and available.

USAC asks that service providers inform their representatives of this requirement.

Next Steps

The next phase of the RAD Adoption Period is expected to begin in late July. At that time, any new account created for accessing the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) or the National Verifier will require a Representative ID. Carriers will also have the opportunity to begin linking a Representative ID to existing accounts. More information on how service providers link Representative IDs to a representative’s NLAD and National Verifier accounts will be included in the July monthly webinar.

At the same time that the process for linking a Representative ID to accounts becomes available in the NLAD pre-production and production environments, USAC will release changes to pre-production that include requiring a Representative ID for all transactions submitted using the UI or API. More information on this will also be provided during the July monthly webinar.

Service providers should begin planning to incorporate these system changes into their business processes in anticipation of the full launch of RAD in the fourth quarter of 2019.

RAD Overview

RAD is a new registration system that will allow service provider representatives to obtain a unique ID.

Once the next phase of RAD deployment begins in late July, service provider representatives will provide their unique ID to all eligible telecommunications carriers (ETC) that they support. ETCs will then link these unique IDs to appropriate NLAD and National Verifier accounts. USAC will then be able to use this ID to track a representative’s transactions in the NLAD and National Verifier. 

• Transactions will be monitored for potentially fraudulent activity.
• A unique identifier will give USAC the ability to revoke access to its systems for individual users suspected of fraudulent activity.

The list below outlines who will need to register for a Representative ID:

• Individuals directly interfacing with potential subscribers to enroll them in Lifeline
• Immediate supervisors of individuals directly interacting with potential subscribers to complete Lifeline enrollments
• Individuals that contract directly with ETCs and oversee or manage several teams of people working to complete Lifeline enrollments (Master Agents)
• Individuals that either assist subscribers with recertification or prepare subscriber information for recertification and submission to the NLAD and National Verifier
• Customer service representatives that update PII for existing Lifeline subscribers
• Back office individuals that conduct manual eligibility reviews of subscriber enrollment or recertification information that is initially submitted through an electronic system, e.g., an online portal, ETC billing system

RAD Registration Resources

• Service providers and their representatives can find more information about RAD and how representatives can resolve identity errors on USAC’s website. Please note that the content on USAC’s website for representatives and how they can resolve identity errors is for representatives that do business in the United States. Information for representatives that are employed outside of the United States will be provided shortly.
• Service providers and their representatives can review June’s monthly webinar on the registration process here.
• USAC is hosting two office hours to help service providers adjust to the new system on:
        - Monday, July 1 from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET (register here)
        - Wednesday, July 17 from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET (register here) 
  
  

6/21/2019 – News Brief Issued

6/19/2019 – Legacy System Outage Due to System Maintenance: June 21-22

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems will be unavailable from 9:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, June 21 through 2:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday, June 22 for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to file invoices and use some of the search tools. The BEAR training site will also be unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

6/19/2019 – Reminder: Upcoming Scheduled System Maintenance

6/18/2019 – Legacy System Outage Due to System Maintenance - June 18

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems will be unavailable from 8:00-11:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, June 18 for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to file invoices and use some of the search tools. The BEAR training site will also be unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

NOTE: The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will not be affected by this maintenance.

6/18/2019 – Legacy System Outage

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems are temporarily unavailable. During this time, users will be unable to file invoices and use some of the search tools. The BEAR training site will also be unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

NOTE: The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will not be affected by this maintenance.

6/14/2019 – News Brief Issued

6/13/2019 – FCC Announces 3rd Quarter 2019 Contribution Factor Increase to 24.4 Percent

6/13/2019 – June NLAD Release

Updates to BQP Information

Beginning today, Thursday, June 13, any changes to Benefit Qualifying Person (BQP) information will require a de-enroll and re-enroll. 

If a Lifeline consumer needs to edit, remove, or add BQP information, they will need to:

1. Inform their service provider so that their service provider can de-enroll them,
2. Re-apply with the updated BQP information, and
3. Inform their service provider once they have successfully re-applied. 

Once notified, their service provider can re-enroll them in the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD). Please note this change applies to all BQP information, regardless if the consumer applied through the National Verifier or legacy workflow.

Changes to NLAD Address Field

6/12/2019 – Special Edition News Brief - Applicant and Tribal Training Announcement

6/10/2019 – FCC Releases Public Notice DA-19-540

6/10/2019 – RHC Newsletter for June 2019

FCC Releases Order 19-45
On May 20, 2019, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released FCC Order 19-45 affecting Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) Program participants with FY2018 multi-year and upfront payment funding requests. For FY2018, multi-year and upfront payment funding requests exceeded the $150M cap.  In the Order, the Commission suspended its rule allowing for multi-year commitments in the HCF Program for FY2018 and directed USAC to process these requests as single-year funding requests. Without such direction, the multi-year funding requests were facing a significant proration.  The Order also extended the FY2019 filing window deadline to June 30, 2019 for HCF Program applicants that: (1) filed FY2018 multi-year and upfront payment funding requests either individually or as part of a consortium; and (2) did not receive a funding decision on their FY2018 funding request from USAC by May 20, 2019.

Download the FCC Order 19-45 Tip Sheet or read more about the Order here

Coming Soon! RHC Website Updates
Over the next few months, RHC will be refreshing the content on the RHC public website, usac.org/rhc. Our goal is to make information easier to find and understand for all applicants, and changes will include consolidating information and simplifying the content. Don’t worry! We will share more information about any changes before they happen.

Important Reminders

Notice: My Portal No Longer Supported by Internet Explorer
Please be sure to using Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox to ensure your RHC Program forms and supporting documentation are submitted.

What to do if You Receive an Information Request
USAC cannot complete their review of FCC Forms submitted with incomplete or missing documentation, and RHC reviewers will reach out to all account holders (the primary and all secondary and tertiary account holders associated with that HCP) with a request for additional information (“Information Request”). Information Requests are sent to collect any missing documentation, address deficiencies, or to ask clarifying questions about the FCC Form. If you receive an Information Request, you must respond to it within 14 calendar days. Failure to respond within the 14 calendar day timeframe will result in a denial of funding, so be sure to meet that deadline.
Information Request Tips for the Telecom Program

• Very important: Applicants can receive Telecom Information Requests through My Portal OR through email
• For Information Requests inside My Portal, applicant should respond inside My Portal only
• For email Information Requests, applicant should “Reply All” to respond to the Information Request
• Use Chrome/Firefox Only when using My Portal
• When uploading a document as a response, the document should be limited to 10MB
• When uploading a document as a response, the document name should not contain any special characters, only letters and numbers

 
Information Request Tips for the HCF Program

• Applicants receive HCF Program Information Requests through email and should “Reply All” to respond to an Information Request

FCC Form 460 Best Practice
During the submission of an FCC Form 460 (HCF Eligibility and Registration Form), we recommend that applicants upload any supporting documentation necessary to validate form data to the “Supporting Documentation” section. This includes any documentation that is relevant to the required fields of the FCC Form 460. Doing so creates additional visibility into the HCP and increases the chance of a faster review. A few examples include:

• Hospital licenses, with the address clearly posted, to verify a non-profit hospital
• A recent bill or lease, with the address clearly posted, to verify the HCP address provided on the FCC Form 460
• Public tax documents to verify the Non-Profit Tax ID (EIN)
• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) accreditation to verify a community health center

Please keep in mind that the FCC Form 460 review can take up to 30 days. You can submit your FCC Form 460 at any time during the funding year.

Filing an Appeal
Any party that wishes to appeal a USAC decision must file an appeal with USAC within 60 days of the date when USAC issued the decision. All appeals must be sent to RHC-Appeals@usac.org.  The following information must be included in the appeal:

• Applicant or service provider who is filing the appeal (i.e. HCP number, service provider’s 498 ID (SPIN))
• Contact information of the person who can discuss the appeal with USAC in detail  (include name, address, telephone number, and email address)
• Documentation of USAC's decision (e.g., copy of USAC's decision letter being appealed)
• Supporting documentation such as forms and previous correspondence with USAC
• A precise explanation of the relief sought through the appeal

USAC may reach out for additional information while reviewing your appeal, but failure to provide all of the information above within the 60 days may result in denial of your appeal. Parties seeking a waiver of FCC rules (e.g., waiver of deadlines) should file an appeal directly with the Commission because USAC cannot waive FCC rules.  For more information on filing appeals with USAC or the FCC, please visit the appeals page of the USAC website.

Consortia Resources
HCF Program applicants who may be interested in forming a consortia can download three new resources to help them get started:

• Consortia Getting Started Tip Sheet
• Forming a Consortium Tip Sheet
• FCC Form 461 and 462 Tip Sheet for Consortia

Account Holder Guidance
USAC recommends having at least one secondary account holder per HCP. We’ve created guides for primary account holders with instructions for adding additional account holders in My Portal:

• Telecom Account Holder Guide 
• Healthcare Connect Fund Account Holder Guide

LOA/TPAs Must be Up to Date
In order to be considered eligible for funding in FY2019, Letters of Agency (LOA) and Third Party Authorizations (TPA) must be up to date through FY2019, at a minimum. Be especially mindful if you are an HCP using a consultant, a consortium leader, or a consultant filing on behalf of a consortium leader. Before submitting a form, please check to ensure your authorization documents are up to date. FCC Forms 462 and 466 submitted with expired LOAs or TPAs will result in applicants receiving Information Requests.

• Download a Sample TPA or Sample LOA

6/7/2019 – News Brief Issued

6/7/2019 – New My Portal Landing Page

6/6/2019 – Legacy System Outage Due to System Maintenance - June 6

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems will be unavailable from 9:00-11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday, June 6 for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to file invoices and use some of the search tools. The BEAR training site will also be unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

NOTE: The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will not be affected by this maintenance.

6/4/2019 – Reminder: Scheduled System Maintenance, June 6

The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) and National Verifier production environments will be unavailable due to scheduled system maintenance starting on Thursday, June 6 from 9 p.m. until midnight ET.

NLAD and the National Verifier pre-production environments will be available for use during this time.

5/31/2019 – Upcoming Scheduled System Maintenance

5/31/2019 – News Brief Issued

5/31/2019 – FY2019 Filing Window Closes Today!

FY2019 Filing Window Closes Today!
This means that you must submit your funding requests (FCC Forms 462 or 466) before 11:59 p.m. ET May 31, 2019* to be considered for RHC Program support. Any funding requests submitted after this time will not be considered. We highly encourage you to submit your funding requests as soon as possible.

Prepare to submit your FY2019 Funding Request with these resources:

• January 2019 Funding Request Best Practices Webinar and slides
• Funding Request Summary
• Urban and Rural Rate Guide

*This does not include the HCPs and FRNs affected by FCC Order 19-45. Read more about the Order here. 

5/31/2019 – Lifeline Program Newsletter - May 2019

National Verifier Live in Additional States and Territories

The Lifeline National Verifier fully launched in the following localities on Tuesday, May 7, 2019

• Alaska
• American Samoa
• District of Columbia
• Delaware
• Maine
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Rhode Island
• U.S. Virgin Islands

Service providers in this launch are now required to use the National Verifier to check the eligibility of all Lifeline applicants before enrolling them into the Lifeline program. Consumers in these states and territories can apply for Lifeline directly through the National Verifier online consumer portal or by mailing a paper application to the Lifeline Support Center.

FCC and USAC Announce the Upcoming National Verifier Full Launch Date for Three Additional States

The National Verifier will fully launch in three additional states on Tuesday, June 11, 2019. As of that date, service providers in Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan must use the National Verifier to determine the eligibility of all Lifeline applicants before enrolling them in the program. Service providers will only be able to enroll applicants in National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) if they have an active and approved eligibility decision from the National Verifier.

Consumers in these states who wish to apply for Lifeline through the National Verifier will be able to use the consumer portal at CheckLifeline.org/lifeline or submit a paper application directly to the Lifeline Support Center starting Tuesday, June 11, 2019.

Service providers in this launch will receive additional communications from USAC with specific information regarding the full launch of the National Verifier.

If you are a service provider in Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan and have not received information about the full launch, email us at LifelineProgram@usac.org. 

National Verifier: New Enhancements Coming in June

USAC is excited to introduce new enhancements to the National Verifier. The June 2019 updates focus on streamlining the application workflow, including address verification.

Improvements to Application Process

The National Verifier will now:

• Allow upload of eligibility documents for applications in Batch States prior to state eligibility response,
• Specify rejection reasons for applications submitted via the National Verifier portal, and

Complete an automatic pin drop on the AMS mapping tool reflecting the approximate address location as entered by the user.

Upload of Eligibility Documents for Applications in "Pending Batch Decision" Status

Lifeline applications submitted in batch states (NC, TN, MO, and KY) that fail the federal data source check receive a “Pending Batch Decision” status. The applicant then waits 1-3 days to receive an eligibility response from the state.  Under the current workflow, users are able to submit documentation to resolve all errors except for eligibility prior to receiving an eligibility response.

In June 2019 USAC will update the application workflow to allow users to upload eligibility documentation while in the “Pending Batch Decision” status. This will enable users to submit all documentation to resolve all potential errors before receiving an eligibility response from the state. This will ensure a streamlined experience and reduce return visits to service providers to enroll in Lifeline.

Specific Rejection Reasons for Applications

An application submitted in the National Verifier may result in an error that requires additional documentation for the Lifeline Support Center to review.

Service providers and consumers often request clarification around why certain documents are rejected during this manual review.

USAC will now provide specific reasons why a document was rejected in the National Verifier. This update will enable consumers to better understand what is required for submission and qualification.

Automatic Pin Drop on the AMS Map

When a user enters an address in National Verifier, the system will transmit the information to the AMS mapping tool. Once a user reaches the AMS mapping tool screen, they will see a map along with a pin near or on the exact address provided in the application. Users will then need to simply verify that the pin drop is in the correct spot (or move the pin to the correct location) to proceed to the next section of the application.

For users who use a descriptive address, the tool will attempt to locate the exact address and drop the pin there. If the tool is unable to locate the exact address, a pin will drop within an approximate boundary (e.g. zip code) from the provided address.

Representative Accountability Database (RAD) Updates

In late June, USAC will begin implementing the Representative Accountability Database (RAD). The registration system will be used to validate the identities of service provider representatives that handle Lifeline program enrollments, recertifications, and other related transactions.

Representatives and service providers will interact with the RAD in the following ways:

• Representatives will self-register for their Representative ID,
• Representatives will take their Representative ID to all service providers for which they perform Lifeline transactions so that the ID can be linked to their National Verifier and National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) accounts,
• USAC will monitor representatives’ transactions for potentially fraudulent activity and lock out representatives when appropriate, and
• Service providers will regularly confirm that the representatives linked to their accounts should remain linked to their accounts through the RAD Confirmation process.
  

Representatives that perform any of the following Lifeline transactions will require a Representative ID:

• Individuals directly interfacing with potential subscribers to enroll them in Lifeline,
• Immediate supervisors of individuals directly interacting with potential subscribers to complete Lifeline enrollments,
  Individuals that contract directly with ETCs and oversee or manage several teams of people working to complete Lifeline enrollments,
• Individuals that either assist subscribers with recertification or prepare subscriber information for recertification and submission to the National Verifier or NLAD,
• Customer service representatives that update PII for existing Lifeline subscribers, and

Back office individuals that conduct manual eligibility reviews of subscriber enrollment or recertification information that is initially submitted through an electronic system (such as an online portal or ETC billing system).

The registration period for service provider representatives will begin in late June. When the registration period begins, all existing representatives will be asked to register for a Representative ID. Service providers will be given time to test linking a Representative’s ID to their respective accounts before RAD is fully implemented. USAC anticipates that RAD will be fully implemented in the fourth quarter of this year.

NLAD API Specification Changes

As mentioned above and during the May Webinar, transactions submitted to the National Verifier and NLAD will be associated with a Representative ID. The NLAD API Specifications will be updated to account for this change. To receive the revised NLAD API Specification, email LifelineSupport@usac.org with the subject line RAD - NLAD API Specs.

These changes will include the Representative ID as a conditional field for the transaction types listed above. The change will also include a conditional field that can be used to indicate a representative was not involved in the transaction, such as when an application is submitted independently by a consumer through a carrier’s online enrollment system. Service providers will be able to test these changes in the NLAD pre-production environment in early third quarter 2019.

June Monthly Webinar: The Representative Accountability Database (RAD) Registration Process

Join us on Wednesday, June 12 for our next Lifeline Program webinar. During this webinar, we will discuss the first phase of the Representative Accountability Database (RAD).  We will give an overview of the system, discuss the representative registration process and provide high-level information on the process to link Representative IDs to the respective service providers. Once we share our material, we will take provider questions.

This session is designed for service providers and Lifeline stakeholders in all states and territories. You can access the slides and recordings from previous webinars on our Learn: Webinars page.

Consumer Advocate Training on June 19

USAC is hosting a Consumer Advocate training for advocates in all states and territories on Wednesday, June 19 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET. This training will provide a high-level overview of how advocates can educate consumers about the Lifeline program. USAC is committed to helping consumers navigate the new system and this training is meant to help consumer advocates, caseworkers, and others in the consumer support industry serve as a significant resource for consumers during the rollout of the National Verifier.

You can register for the training here. Please share this invitation with your colleagues or other consumer advocates. To be added to the consumer advocate distribution list, where you will receive additional updates for those that work directly with consumers, email LifelineProgram@usac.org. 

5/29/2019 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: June 2-3

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and the EPC training site will be unavailable from Sunday, June 2 at 7:00 p.m EDT through Monday, June 3 at 1:00 a.m. EDT for monthly system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use EPC. We apologize for any inconvenience.

5/28/2019 – Resolved: National Verifier, NLAD, and LCS Systems Notification

Resolved: National Verifier, NLAD, and LCS Intermittent Connectivity Issues

Connectivity to the National Verifier, National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD), and Lifeline Claims System (LCS) has been fully restored. USAC has been monitoring the issues closely and was able to stabilize the systems yesterday afternoon and confirm their ongoing stability this morning.

Users should now be able to perform all transactions successfully. If you continue to experience issues, please email NLADsupport@usac.org.

5/24/2019 – News Brief Issued

12/14/2018 – 498 ID Status Tool - ISSUE RESOLVED

The 498 Status Tool is now operational.

Visit this webpage to use the 498 Status Tool.