The FCC's universal service programs are intended to ensure that consumers in all regions of the Nation have access to telecommunications services at affordable and reasonably comparable rates. There are currently four universal service programs, each designed to address a specific category of universal service needs. The high-cost program provides support for telephone service in high-cost areas of the county. The low-income program provides support to enable low-income consumers to obtain and retain telephone service. The schools and libraries program provides support to assist schools and libraries in purchasing telecommunications and information services. The rural health care program provides support to assist rural health care providers in purchasing telecommunications and information services. These programs are open to all eligible applicants, including Indians and Indian businesses. Moreover, as described below, the FCC is looking for ways to address specific universal service needs among Indians.

Enhanced Lifeline: Provides low-income consumers living on tribal lands with monthly discounts on the cost of receiving basic telephone service. These discounts may enable low-income consumers living on tribal lands to receive telephone service for as little as $1 per month. Additional support may be available through state Lifeline programs.

Enhanced Link-Up: Helps low-income consumers living on tribal lands pay the initial costs of commencing telephone service in the primary residence, including wireless activation fees. Low-income consumers living on tribal lands may receive discounts up to $100 on initial connection charges. Link-Up may not offset any costs of a wireless handset.

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• Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Modifies the Commission's rules to improve the effectiveness of low-income support mechanism, which ensures that quality telecommunications services are available to low-incom consumers at just, reasonable, and affordable rates. (Dkt No. WC-03-109, Released 4/29/04) FCC 04-87 Acrobat | Word

May 2003

• Order on Reconsideration and Order. Addresses petitions for reconsideration of the Twelfth Report and Order, which adopted rules to provide additional targeted support to low-income consumers on tribal lands, and clarifies rules regarding the qualification criteria for enhanced Lifeline and Link-Up service (Dkt No. CC-96-45, Released 5/21/03) FCC 03-115 Acrobat




October 2001

• Order. The Federal Communications Commission released an Order that finds that the FCC, not the South Dakota PUC, has jurisdiction to designate Western Wireless an ETC for service to tribal members on the Pine Ridge Reservation. (Dkt No. CC-96-45, Released 10/5/01) FCC 01-284 Acrobat | Text

• Order. The Federal Communications Commission released an Order that designates Western Wireless as an ETC for service to tribal members on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. (Dkt No. CC-96-45, Released 10/5/01) FCC 01-283 Acrobat | Text




January 2001

• Order. Common Carrier Bureau releases Order granting the requests from Mescalero Apache Telecom, Inc. (Mescalero), GTE Southwest Incorporated (GTE), and Valor Telecommunications of New Mexico, LLC (Valor), for a waiver of the definition of "study area" contained in the Part 36 Appendix-Glossary of the Commission’s rules. (Dkt No. CC-96-45, Released 1/18/01) DA No. 01-129 Text | Word

• Order. The Commission releases Order granting the request from Mescalero Apache Telecom, Inc., Petition for a waiver of Section 54.305 of the Commission's Rules.(Dkt No. CC-96-45, Released 1/18/01) FCC No. 01-13. Text | Word

• Order. Common Carrier Bureau releases Order granting the requests from ATEAC, Inc., Alaska Telephone Company, Arctic Slope Telephone Association Cooperative, Inc., Interior Telephone Company, Inc., Mukluk Telephone Company, Inc., and United-KUC, Inc. for waiver to effectuate sale of 13 exchanges comprising 23,796 access lines in Alaska: Grants waiver of the Part 36 (universal service) freeze on study area boundaries. (Dkt No. CC-96-45, Released 1/17/01) DA No. 01-101 Text | Word