September 27, 2023
September Lifeline Newsletter
September Monthly Newsletter Headlines:
- Commission Provides Hawaii Wildfire Relief Updates
- Typhoon Mawar Waiver Expired September 1
- Maintenance Schedule
- October Webinar: National Verifier 101
View full newsletter
September 1, 2023
Relief to Lifeline and ACP Participants Affected by Hurricane Idalia
On September 1, 2023, the Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released an Order (DA 23-805) that temporarily waives the non-usage, de-enrollment for non-usage, and annual recertification requirements under the Lifeline and ACP rules for participants in Florida and South Carolina in the Affected Disaster Areas.
The waiver period under this order is through November 30, 2023. At the end of the waiver period, recertification efforts will resume. Subscribers residing in the Affected Disaster Areas and who are subject to the non-usage rule will have 30 days (beginning on December 1, 2023) to use their Lifeline and/or ACP service. If the subscriber does not use their service during the 30-day period, the 15-day notice period will begin on December 31, 2023.
This waiver also pauses the reverification requirements for Lifeline subscribers in the impacted area through November 30, 2023.
August 30, 2023
August 2023 Lifeline Newsletter
August Monthly Newsletter Headlines:
- Bureau Waives Broadband Program Rules for Hawaii Wildfires
- Bureau Also Offers Relief to Lifeline Participants Affected by Hawaii Wildfires
- National Verifier Legacy URLs
- New Duplicate Benefit Qualifying Person (BQP) Error Codes
- September Maintenance Schedule
- September Webinar: Consumer Advocate Training
View full newsletter
August 28, 2023
Hawai’i Wildfires Waiver
On August 25, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission adopted Order 23-67A1 temporarily waiving the Lifeline eligibility requirements in section 54.409(a)-(b) to ensure that consumers who are participating in FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (IHP) , as a result of the Hawai’i wildfires, can apply for and enroll in the Lifeline program.
Under the current disaster declaration, only consumers in Maui County may be eligible for individual assistance, but if the scope of households eligible for support through FEMA’s IHP expands to cover other geographic areas in response to the Hawai’i Wildfires, the eligibility waiver would also extend to these consumers.
Consumers will be able to enroll using this waiver through February 25, 2024. USAC is taking steps to implement the waiver and allow consumers to submit appropriate documentation to enter the Lifeline program. Consumers applying for Lifeline under this waiver are not permitted to enroll in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
All service providers are encouraged to inform impacted consumers about this opportunity and work to support relief efforts throughout the impacted areas of Hawai’i.
To Learn more see FCC Order 23-67A1.
August 23, 2023
System Notice: Additional Maintenance
Users of the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD), National Verifier Portal (NV), and National Verifier Carrier API users may encounter intermittent disruption due to system maintenance starting at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, August 31 until Friday, September 1 at 4 a.m. ET.
The monthly maintenance on September 22, 2023 remains as scheduled.
We apologize for the inconvenience.
Note: All scheduled maintenance dates for NLAD and NV are available on the USAC website.
