Glossary of Terms

Terms	Program	Definitions
FCC Form 555 (Annual Lifeline Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Certification Form)	Lifeline	An annual certification that all Lifeline service providers complete to report the results of the annual subscriber recertification process and de-enrollments. All ETCs that have a SAC assignment from USAC must file an FCC Form 555 with USAC, the FCC, and relevant state and Tribal governments.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers	An independent agency of the U.S. government established in 1934. The FCC is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in all U.S. states and territories. In 1997, the FCC designated USAC to be the independent not-for-profit corporation to administer the universal service fund, in accordance with its rules. The Commission oversees USAC’s administration of the USF.
Household	Lifeline	An individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address as one economic unit by contributing to and sharing income and expenses, whether or not they are related. Only one Lifeline discount is allowed per household.
Improper Payment	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers	Any payment that should not have been made, or that was made in an incorrect amount under statutory, contractual, administrative, or other legally applicable requirements. Improper payments are subject to IPIA and IPERA rules. USAC calculates estimates of improper payment rates via the PQA program and provides this information to the FCC.
Internet Service Provider (ISP)	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers	An organization that provides services for connecting to the public internet. For the purposes of universal service support, ISPs may be referred to as service providers. See also Service Provider.
Lifeline Annual Recertification Form	Lifeline	The form enrolled Lifeline subscribers that are not automatically recertified by the National Verifier submit to complete the annual Lifeline recertification process and show they still qualify for the benefit. Every year, USAC will check to confirm that a consumer still qualifies to receive the Lifeline benefit. If their eligibility cannot automatically be confirmed, they will receive a letter in the mail asking them to recertify using this form and additional documentation within 60 days.
Lifeline Application Form	Lifeline	The application consumers complete to apply for the Lifeline benefit. Consumers can apply online at lifelinesupport.org, by mailing a completed paper application, or with the assistance of a participating service provider.
Lifeline Claims System (LCS)	Lifeline	The online filing system that service providers use to submit claims for reimbursement for offering Lifeline-supported services to Lifeline subscribers.
Lifeline Consumer	Lifeline	Any individual may qualify to receive the Lifeline benefit if their household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines, or if they participate in SNAP, Medicaid, or other government assistance programs. Consumers need to apply to receive the benefit. For more information on the application process, visit lifelinesupport.org.
Lifeline Consumer Advocates	Lifeline	Individuals or organizations such as case workers, digital navigators, housing assistance staff, or shelter staff that partner with Lifeline to generate awareness about the program and support Lifeline consumers in receiving the Lifeline benefit.
Lifeline Program	Lifeline	One of the four universal service programs administered by USAC. The program offers a monthly benefit of up to $9.25 towards qualifying phone or internet services for eligible subscribers, or up to $34.25 for those living on qualifying Tribal lands.
Lifeline Program One‑Per‑Household Worksheet	Lifeline	The worksheet consumers complete to ensure that no more than one household receives Lifeline at their address. More than one person at an address may receive the Lifeline benefit, but only one benefit may be received per household. See also Household.
Lifeline Support Center	Lifeline	Helps consumers with applying for Lifeline, understanding eligibility requirements, and the annual recertification process. The Lifeline Support Center is open every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET and may be reached by calling (800) 234-9473 or emailing LifelineSupport@usac.org.
LifelineSupport.org	Lifeline	USAC’s official consumer-facing Lifeline website that provides information about the Lifeline benefit, how to apply, manage the benefit once enrolled, and access support resources. The site includes downloadable handouts for consumer advocates and providers to support outreach and awareness efforts.
National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD)	Lifeline	A system used by service providers to enroll qualifying consumers in the Lifeline program and to manage their Lifeline subscribers, including the detection and elimination of duplicative support.
National Verifier	Lifeline	An online application system that facilitates the determination of consumer eligibility for the Lifeline benefit and is also used to complete annual recertification for existing subscribers.
Notice of Resolved Issue (NORI)	Rural Health Care, Lifeline	A sub-category of ADL that is issued if USAC’s Appeals team identifies that the USAC decision made during operational review was not compliant with FCC rules and requirements.
One Portal	USAC General, E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers	USAC’s single sign-on online dashboard for accessing systems such as EPC, the National Verifier, NLAD, LCS, and RAD, as well as the E-File forms submission tool and many invoicing functions. Certain payment processes are also handled through One Portal. Accessible at https://forms.universalservice.org/portal/login.
Open Data	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers	A web portal with datasets and tools available for universal service program data. Users can view, search, filter, and manipulate the data in each dataset and extract that data in a variety of formats. Users can also extract data via API calls. Accessible at https://opendata.usac.org/.
Past Due Letter (PDL)	Rural Health Care, Lifeline	A letter USAC sends to a universal service support applicant who has received a DPL but has not returned the funds owed within the stipulated 30 days. The PDL notifies the applicant that they are past due and that failure to pay the outstanding funds will be reported to Treasury if payment is not made within 30 days of the date on the PDL.
Payment Quality Assurance (PQA) Program	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers	A USAC program that assesses payments made to universal service support recipients to determine if the payments were made in accordance with FCC rules. Following these assessments, USAC estimates improper payment rates and provides this information to the FCC.
Red Light Rule	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers	A requirement that the FCC withhold action on a universal service support application, payment, and/or other requests for benefits when the universal service program participant is delinquent in non-tax debts owed to the FCC or other federal agencies. This rule requires that USAC suspend support to any entity that shares a Tax Identification Number with a company that has a delinquent debt. See also Red Light Status.
Red Light Status	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers	The status of an entity deemed to have violated the Red Light Rule. USAC will not make any disbursements until the entity’s delinquency is satisfied, payment arrangements are made, or the Red Light Status is otherwise resolved. See also Red Light Rule.
Representative Accountability Database (RAD)	Lifeline	A registration system that validates the identities of Lifeline service provider representatives performing transactions in the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) and National Verifier. To create an account in RAD, visit USAC’s How to Register page.
Safe Connections Act (SCA)	Lifeline	A 2022 federal law that makes it easier for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, or related crimes to sever ties with their abusers by separating themselves from a shared wireless telephone plan. Under the SCA, survivors experiencing financial hardship may also receive up to six months of support from the Lifeline program. For more information about the Lifeline application process for survivors, visit the program’s SCA page.

FCC Form 555 (Annual Lifeline Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Certification Form)

Lifeline

An annual certification that all Lifeline service providers complete to report the results of the annual subscriber recertification process and de-enrollments. All ETCs that have a SAC assignment from USAC must file an FCC Form 555 with USAC, the FCC, and relevant state and Tribal governments.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers

An independent agency of the U.S. government established in 1934. The FCC is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in all U.S. states and territories. In 1997, the FCC designated USAC to be the independent not-for-profit corporation to administer the universal service fund, in accordance with its rules. The Commission oversees USAC’s administration of the USF.

Household

Lifeline

An individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address as one economic unit by contributing to and sharing income and expenses, whether or not they are related. Only one Lifeline discount is allowed per household.

Improper Payment

E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers

Any payment that should not have been made, or that was made in an incorrect amount under statutory, contractual, administrative, or other legally applicable requirements. Improper payments are subject to IPIA and IPERA rules. USAC calculates estimates of improper payment rates via the PQA program and provides this information to the FCC.

Internet Service Provider (ISP)

E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers

An organization that provides services for connecting to the public internet. For the purposes of universal service support, ISPs may be referred to as service providers. See also Service Provider.

Lifeline Annual Recertification Form

Lifeline

The form enrolled Lifeline subscribers that are not automatically recertified by the National Verifier submit to complete the annual Lifeline recertification process and show they still qualify for the benefit. Every year, USAC will check to confirm that a consumer still qualifies to receive the Lifeline benefit. If their eligibility cannot automatically be confirmed, they will receive a letter in the mail asking them to recertify using this form and additional documentation within 60 days.

Lifeline Application Form

Lifeline

The application consumers complete to apply for the Lifeline benefit. Consumers can apply online at lifelinesupport.org, by mailing a completed paper application, or with the assistance of a participating service provider.

Lifeline Claims System (LCS)

Lifeline

The online filing system that service providers use to submit claims for reimbursement for offering Lifeline-supported services to Lifeline subscribers.

Lifeline Consumer

Lifeline

Any individual may qualify to receive the Lifeline benefit if their household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines, or if they participate in SNAP, Medicaid, or other government assistance programs. Consumers need to apply to receive the benefit. For more information on the application process, visit lifelinesupport.org.

Lifeline Consumer Advocates

Lifeline

Individuals or organizations such as case workers, digital navigators, housing assistance staff, or shelter staff that partner with Lifeline to generate awareness about the program and support Lifeline consumers in receiving the Lifeline benefit.

Lifeline Program

Lifeline

One of the four universal service programs administered by USAC. The program offers a monthly benefit of up to $9.25 towards qualifying phone or internet services for eligible subscribers, or up to $34.25 for those living on qualifying Tribal lands.

Lifeline Program One‑Per‑Household Worksheet

Lifeline

The worksheet consumers complete to ensure that no more than one household receives Lifeline at their address. More than one person at an address may receive the Lifeline benefit, but only one benefit may be received per household. See also Household.

Lifeline Support Center

Lifeline

Helps consumers with applying for Lifeline, understanding eligibility requirements, and the annual recertification process. The Lifeline Support Center is open every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET and may be reached by calling (800) 234-9473 or emailing LifelineSupport@usac.org.

LifelineSupport.org

Lifeline

USAC’s official consumer-facing Lifeline website that provides information about the Lifeline benefit, how to apply, manage the benefit once enrolled, and access support resources. The site includes downloadable handouts for consumer advocates and providers to support outreach and awareness efforts.

National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD)

Lifeline

A system used by service providers to enroll qualifying consumers in the Lifeline program and to manage their Lifeline subscribers, including the detection and elimination of duplicative support.

National Verifier

Lifeline

An online application system that facilitates the determination of consumer eligibility for the Lifeline benefit and is also used to complete annual recertification for existing subscribers.

Notice of Resolved Issue (NORI)

Rural Health Care, Lifeline

A sub-category of ADL that is issued if USAC’s Appeals team identifies that the USAC decision made during operational review was not compliant with FCC rules and requirements.

One Portal

USAC General, E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers

USAC’s single sign-on online dashboard for accessing systems such as EPC, the National Verifier, NLAD, LCS, and RAD, as well as the E-File forms submission tool and many invoicing functions. Certain payment processes are also handled through One Portal. Accessible at https://forms.universalservice.org/portal/login.

Open Data

E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers

A web portal with datasets and tools available for universal service program data. Users can view, search, filter, and manipulate the data in each dataset and extract that data in a variety of formats. Users can also extract data via API calls. Accessible at https://opendata.usac.org/.

Past Due Letter (PDL)

Rural Health Care, Lifeline

A letter USAC sends to a universal service support applicant who has received a DPL but has not returned the funds owed within the stipulated 30 days. The PDL notifies the applicant that they are past due and that failure to pay the outstanding funds will be reported to Treasury if payment is not made within 30 days of the date on the PDL.

Payment Quality Assurance (PQA) Program

E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers

A USAC program that assesses payments made to universal service support recipients to determine if the payments were made in accordance with FCC rules. Following these assessments, USAC estimates improper payment rates and provides this information to the FCC.

Red Light Rule

E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers

A requirement that the FCC withhold action on a universal service support application, payment, and/or other requests for benefits when the universal service program participant is delinquent in non-tax debts owed to the FCC or other federal agencies. This rule requires that USAC suspend support to any entity that shares a Tax Identification Number with a company that has a delinquent debt. See also Red Light Status.

Red Light Status

E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers

The status of an entity deemed to have violated the Red Light Rule. USAC will not make any disbursements until the entity’s delinquency is satisfied, payment arrangements are made, or the Red Light Status is otherwise resolved. See also Red Light Rule.

Representative Accountability Database (RAD)

Lifeline

A registration system that validates the identities of Lifeline service provider representatives performing transactions in the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) and National Verifier. To create an account in RAD, visit USAC’s How to Register page.

Safe Connections Act (SCA)

Lifeline

A 2022 federal law that makes it easier for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, or related crimes to sever ties with their abusers by separating themselves from a shared wireless telephone plan. Under the SCA, survivors experiencing financial hardship may also receive up to six months of support from the Lifeline program. For more information about the Lifeline application process for survivors, visit the program’s SCA page.

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