[1st-mile-nm] FCC Soft Launches Telecom Subsidy Eligibility Verifier in NM + More States

[Richard Lowenberg]

FCC Soft Launches Telecom Subsidy Eligibility Verifier in More States

JOHN EGGERTON
https://www.multichannel.com/news/fcc-soft-launches-telecom-subsidy-eligibilty-verifier

Carriers have until Aug. 30 to wrap up any current certifications

In a further move in the FCC's effort to better target telecom and 
broadband funds and prevent waste, fraud and abuse, the Wireline 
Competition Bureau is "soft" launching its national Lifeline eligibility 
verifier in another 11 states on June 25: Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, 
Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Vermont, Virginia, and West 
Virginia.

The first soft-launch states were Colorado, Mississippi, Montana, New 
Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

Eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) in those states who are 
eligible for the Lifeline subsidies will not be able to begin any 
subscriber re-certifications after June 25 and should wrap up any 
current certifications under the existing rules by Aug. 30. 
Certification consists of verifying that the subs it is serving with 
subsidies ($9.25 per month) qualify for the program, which is targeted 
at low-income residents and tied to qualifying for various other 
government subsidy programs—Medicaid, Food Stamps, etc.).

ETCs will be able to test the new verifier before the FCC mandates its 
use so their employees can be ready on day one.

During the "soft" launch, the Universal Service Administrative Company 
(USAC) will start re-certifying subs using the national verifier. Anyone 
who can't be certified will be excluded from the program.

One of the things Pai did early on in his tenure was to revoke the most 
recent round of Lifeline until the FCC addressed the verification issue. 
Pai's stated goal is to prevent waste, fraud and abuse, something he has 
long targeted in the program, though critics have suggested it was a 
draconian hit on lower income residents being denied service.



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Richard Lowenberg, Executive Director
1st-Mile Institute     505-603-5200
Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504,
rl at 1st-mile.org     www.1st-mile.org
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