The Low-Income program provides discounts on telephone installation and monthly telephone service to qualifying consumers. The Low-Income program is one of the components of the FCC's Universal Service Fund. There are two programs available to qualified low-income consumers:

• Link-Up America helps consumers with telephone installation costs.
  
  
• Lifeline provides discounts on monthly telephone service.

Additional discounts are available to qualified subscribers living on tribal lands. You can read more about the Low-Income program eligibility criteria in the FCC's Universal Service Program for Low-Income Consumers

• Over 1500 telephone companies in the United States and its territories participate in the Federal Low-Income program.

• Many competitive and wireless telephone companies are eligible to provide Lifeline and Link-Up support.

• In order to provide Lifeline and Link-Up, carriers must be designated as Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETCs) by their state commission or the FCC.

• After receiving ETC designation, carriers must file a Form 497 each quarter with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) to receive support for the discounts they provide customers.

For more information on providing low-income support go to: www.universalservice.org/li

HEADLINES - 2010

• Lifeline Declaratory Ruling Order : 2/2/10, In this order, we address four petitions for waiver of section 54.410 of the Commission’s rules and six requests for a declaratory ruling concerning the Commission’s Lifeline certification and verification requirements. We grant the requests for waiver seeking an extension of the June 22, 2005, deadline to submit sample Lifeline verification data in the US Cellular Washington Petition, the ADT Petition, and the VA Cellular Petition. We also grant the Petitioners’ requests for a declaratory ruling and conclude that when a state commission mandates Lifeline support, but does not impose certification and verification requirements on certain carriers within the state, the affected carriers must follow federal default criteria for certification and verification purposes. Finally, we grant the requests filed by Wisconsin RSA #4 and US Cellular Wisconsin to withdraw their petitions.
  Order: Word | PDF
  
  
• Virgin Mobile ETC PN: 1/28/10, WCB seeks comment on a petition filed by Virgin Mobile USA, L.P. (Virgin Mobile), a provider of commercial mobile radio services. Virgin Mobile seeks designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) in the state of Alabama. Virgin Mobile seeks ETC designation for the limited purpose of participating in the universal service low-income Lifeline program and does not request ETC designation to receive universal service high-cost support.
  Public Notice: Word | PDF
  
  
• PEMA TracFone Opposition Withdrawal Order: 1/28/10, In this order, WCB grants the request filed by PEMA to withdraw its petition to reject TracFone’s self-certification that TracFone is in full compliance with applicable Pennsylvania 911 and E-911 obligations.
  Order: Word | PDF
  
  
• Standing Rock Telecom ETC PN: 1/19/10, WCB seeks comment on a petition filed by Standing Rock Telecommunications, Inc. (SRTI), a tribal-government owned wireless carrier. SRTI seeks designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier for a service area coterminous with the existing rural study areas within the external boundaries of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in South Dakota and North Dakota.
  Public Notice: Word | PDF
  
  
• CenturyTel of Eagle Order: 1/12/10, TAPD grants the request of CenturyTel of Eagle to withdraw its application for review. On August 1, 2002, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission petitioned the Commission for agreement with its proposed redefinition of the service area of CenturyTel of Eagle. On November 25, 2002, that redefinition petition was deemed approved under Commission rule 54.207(c)(2)(ii). CenturyTel filed an application for review arguing that the Commission’s deemed-approved process violates the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and that the redefinition of its service area was not in the public interest. On October 20, 2009, CenturyTel filed a request for withdrawal of its application for review.
  Order: Word | PDF
  
  
• Cricket ETC Designation Petition: 1/12/10, The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Cricket Communications, Inc. (Cricket), a provider of commercial mobile radio services. Cricket seeks designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) for certain counties in New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia as well as in the District of Columbia. Cricket seeks ETC designation for the limited purpose of participating in the universal service low-income Lifeline and Link-Up programs and does not request ETC designation to receive universal service high-cost support. Please note: Cricket is a facilities-based ETC and thus does not require forbearance before being designated an ETC.
  Public Notice: Word | PDF
  
  
• Consumer Cellular ETC Designation Petition: 1/12/10, The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Consumer Cellular, Inc. (Consumer Cellular), a reseller of commercial mobile radio services. Consumer Cellular seeks designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) for certain counties in Connecticut, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Consumer Cellular seeks ETC designation for the limited purpose of participating in the universal service low-income Lifeline program and does not request ETC designation to receive high-cost universal service support. Please note: Consumer Cellular has a petition pending before the Commission seeking forbearance from the facilities-based ETC requirement; this ETC designation petition assumes that the Commission will grant that petition.
  Public Notice: Word | PDF
  
  

• Alltel Lifeline Audit PN: 12/30/09, In this Public Notice, the Commission seeks comment on the Verizon/Alltel Management Trust’s request for review of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) low-income support audit findings that the Verizon/Alltel Management Trust: (1) lacked effective procedures for excluding duplicate claims for universal service low-income support under the Lifeline program from a single address; (2) claimed Tier 4 Lifeline support for subscribers not residing on Tribal lands and failed to provide Tier 4 Lifeline support to eligible households on Tribal lands; (3) sought Lifeline reimbursement for subscribers claimed on other carriers’ FCC Forms 497; and (4) claimed Lifeline support for subscribers on Tribal lands who received a rate plan that included toll-free calling.
  Public Notice: Word | PDF
  
  
• Cellco/Verizon ETC PN: 12/30/09, WCB seeks comment on the Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless requests to amend the eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) designations currently held by Alltel in Alabama, North Carolina, and Virginia (and also ETC designations held by RCC Holdings in Virginia). Under the proposed amendment, Alltel’s and RCC’s ETC designations would reflect Cellco as the designated entity.
  Public Notice: Word | PDF
  
  
• TracFone Wireless, Inc.: 10/21/09, TracFone “One-Per-Household” Letter: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a letter from TracFone Wireless, Inc., which (1) asks the Commission to clarify whether its ruling that carriers can receive universal service Lifeline support for a single telephone line in an eligible consumer’s principal residence is intended to limit the availability of Lifeline-supported service to only one qualified low-income resident per homeless shelter; and (2) requests guidance on how eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) may enroll residents of shelters in their Lifeline programs without risking violation of the “one-per-household” rule. WCB also seeks comment on the effects of the one-per-household rule for Lifeline support in the context of other types of group living facilities, and on whether and how ETCs that provide Lifeline-supported service to homeless individuals who do not use shelters may comply with the one-per-household rule. Comments are due November 20 , 2009 and reply comments are due December 7, 2009.
  Public Notice: Word | PDF
  
  
• Lifeline Verification & Certification: 8/10/09, Wireline Competition Bureau reminds ETCs of the August 31, 2009 deadline for their submission of annual Lifeline verification surveys and certifications and on August 31 of each subsequent year thereafter, attesting that the ETC has complied with the state verification procedures.
  Public Notice: Word | PDF
  
  
• TracFone Lifeline Petition to Modify Lifeline Head of Household: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a TracFone petition to modify a condition (imposed by the Commission’s designation of TracFone) that TracFone must require each of its Lifeline customers to annually self-certify that they are the head of their household and receive Lifeline-supported service only from TracFone. Specifically, TracFone requests that it be allowed to verify annually that its Lifeline customers are heads of households and receive Lifeline-supported service only from TracFone through use of a statistically valid sample of those customers. Comments are due July 6, 2009 and reply comments are due July 20, 2009.
  Public Notice: Word | PDF
  
  
• TracFone Lifeline Tier 1 Petition: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by TracFone in which TracFone requests that it be allowed to receive Tier One Lifeline support in the amount of $6.50 per month per Lifeline customer in all service areas where it operates as en eligible telecommunications carrier, provided that TracFone: (1) passes through the full amount of its federal Lifeline support to its Lifeline customers; and (2) provides each of its Lifeline customers with an additional monthly Lifeline benefit of $3.50. This petition for waiver seeks the same relief that TracFone is seeking in a petition for rulemaking that it recently filed. Comments are due July 6, 2009 and reply comments are due July 20, 2009.
  Public Notice: Word | PDF
  
  
• Head Start ETC Forbearance Petition: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on Head Start's petition for forbearance from the eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) facilities requirement for designation as a limited ETC eligible for low-income support. Comments are due July 6, 2009 and reply comments are due July 20, 2009.
  Public Notice: Word | PDF
  
  
• i-wireless ETC Forbearance Petition: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on i-wireless's petition for forbearance from the eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) facilities requirement for designation as a limited ETC eligible for low-income support. Comments are due July 6, 2009 and reply comments are due July 20, 2009.
  Public Notice: Word | PDF
  
  
• AT&T Lifeline Audit Petition: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on AT&T’s petition regarding USAC’s Lifeline audit of AT&T. In its petition, AT&T seeks review of USAC’s findings that: (1) USAC should recover toll limitation service (TLS) support from AT&T because AT&T cannot supply documentation detailing its incremental cost of providing TLS to its Lifeline customers; (2) AT&T was required to advertise to its Lifeline customers toll blocking and all other services supported by federal universal service support mechanisms; and (3) AT&T was required to populate Line 9 of FCC Form 497 (the Lifeline and Link-Up Worksheet) with pro-rata dollars attributable to Lifeline subscribers that entered or exited the Lifeline program mid-month. Comments are due July 6, 2009 and reply comments are due July 20, 2009.
  Public Notice: Word | PDF
  
  
• Smith Bagley, Inc.: 5/4/09, The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Smith Bagley seeking an increase to Tier Four of the Universal Service Low-Income Program from $25 per month to $30 per month. Comments on the petition are due June 3, 2009 and reply comments are due June 18, 2009.
  Public Notice: Word | PDF
  
  
• TracFone Wireless, Inc. Request for Waiver of Section 54.418 of the Commission’s Rules: 4/10/09, Granted a request from TracFone Wireless, Inc. for a conditional waiver of section 54.418 of the Commission's rules, which requires ETCs to notify their Lifeline and Link-Up customers about the DTV transition .
  Order: Word | PDF
  
  
• Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency TracFone Certification Petition: 3/30/09, The The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency asking the Commission to reject TracFone Wireless, Inc.'s certification of compliance with all Pennsylvania 911 and E911 obligations. Comments on the petition are due April 29, 2009 and reply comments are due May 14, 2009.
  Public Notice: Word | PDF
  
  
• Virgin Mobile Conditional Forbearance and Lifeline ETC Order: 3/5/09, The Commission conditionally granted a petition filed by Virgin Mobile USA, L.P. (Virgin Mobile) seeking forbearance from the requirement that a carrier designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) provide services, at least in part, over its own facilities. The Commission granted Virgin Mobile forbearance for ETC designation for Lifeline universal service support only. The Commission also conditionally designated Virgin Mobile an ETC for Lifeline support only in New York, Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
  Order: Word | PDF
  
  
• TracFone PSAP Forbearance Condition Modification Order: 3/5/09, The Commission modified a forbearance condition imposed on TracFone Wireless, Inc. as a requirement that TracFone must meet prior to receiving support under the Lifeline universal service program. Specifically, TracFone must request a certification from each public safety answering point (PSAP) where it provides Lifeline service confirming that TracFone provides its customers with access to basic and E911 service; however, if, within 90 days of TracFone's request a PSAP has not provided the certification and the PSAP has not made an affirmative finding that TracFone does not provide its customers with access to 911 and E911 service within the PSAP's service area, TracFone may self-certify that it meets the basic and E911 requirements.
  Order: Word | PDF