April 17, 2026
LifelineSupport.org Improvements
USAC is excited to announce that Lifeline’s consumer website LifelineSupport.org has been updated to improve the consumer experience and make key information easier to access. The refresh includes new webpages, easier to understand content, and improved navigation. These updates are designed to better support both consumers and the organizations that assist them by making information clearer, more accessible, and easier to understand.
New Homepage
A new homepage design helps visitors quickly understand the Lifeline benefit. Key actions like applying for the benefit are now easier to find. The layout also reflects what consumers see when applying for the benefit online, creating a more seamless transition from learning about the benefit to applying through the National Verifier’s website.
Streamlined and Simplified Content
Information across the website has been simplified and reorganized to improve clarity and usability. The website content is designed to help consumers learn and apply for the benefit if they are eligible. We highly encourage stakeholders to visit the below pages to see what has been refreshed on the site:
• About Lifeline
• How to Apply
• How to Qualify
• Tribal Lands Benefit
• Supporting Documents
More accessible language and formatting now make site navigation easier. Improved side navigation also helps visitors find answers faster, creating a more user-friendly experience.
What This Means for Consumers
These improvements are part of USAC’s ongoing commitment to ensure that Lifeline information is accessible, helpful, and easy to understand and navigate for all consumers. USAC will continue to aid consumers in utilizing the Lifeline program with greater ease and confidence.
April 15, 2026
April Monthly System Maintenance
USAC will perform scheduled monthly system maintenance on Friday, April 17, from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. ET on Saturday, April 18.
The production environments of the following systems are impacted:
- National Verifier Portal
- National Verifier Carrier API
- National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD)
- Lifeline Claims System (LCS)
- Representative Accountability Database (RAD)
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Note: All scheduled maintenance dates for NV and NLAD are available on the USAC website.
April 1, 2026
Lifeline Claims System Notice
USAC is aware that the rate field in the claims input template is not pre-populating when the template is downloaded in the Lifeline Claims System (LCS). This issue affects all data months in which an original claim has not yet been submitted. Until the issue is resolved, providers must manually enter the rate for each subscriber on the claims input template.
USAC is working to fix this issue by the next filing period. In the meantime, we encourage providers to file certified claims by April 8 to ensure payment is received at the end of the month.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
April 1, 2026
FCC Form 481 Due by July 1, 2026
Eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) participating in the High Cost and/or Lifeline programs must annually file the FCC Form 481 in accordance with 47 C.F.R. § 54.313 (High Cost) and 47 C.F.R. § 54.422 (Lifeline/High Cost and Lifeline-only). This form collects financial and operational information.
The 2026 filing window opened on April 1 and service providers can log into One Portal to access and certify the FCC Form 481. Filings are due by July 1, 2026.
For the 2026 filing, all ETCs participating in Lifeline must file and certify the form, even if the provider is not seeking Lifeline support.
For more information on the filing process, please visit our File FCC Form 481 page.
