T-Mobile agreed with TracFone that rules on cutting off service...

Rico Telecommunications Regulatory Board to deny Lifeline support for at least a year to all subscribers there found to have received support from multiple eligible telecommunications carriers (CD Feb 24 p 13). Like TracFone, T-Mobile has subscribers in Puerto Rico. “Lifeline can make the difference in whether low-income consumers can access vital economic and educational opportunities and crucial emergency services,” T-Mobile said (http://xrl.us/bmxusk). “As TracFone points out, with the knowledge that an issue existed with duplicate enrollment in a number of states, the Commission began a dialogue that culminated in the Industry Dispute Resolution Process (IDRP), which effectively has been codified in the new rules. ... T-Mobile believes it is possible to eliminate duplicative and fraudulent payments without denying the benefits of Lifeline to eligible subscribers. Sprint Nextel also filed in support of TracFone. “Sprint agrees that Commission guidance will help to ensure that eligible end users in Puerto Rico receive federal Lifeline benefits to which they are entitled, while simultaneously reducing program inefficiencies and promoting an environment in which carriers can continue to provide much-needed telecommunications services to residential customers in Puerto Rico efficiently and effectively,” Sprint said (http://xrl.us/bmxuty). The National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates said the steps taken by the Puerto Rican board are contrary to federal universal service policy” and should be addressed by the FCC. “In particular, the Puerto Rico Board’s approach denies otherwise eligible Lifeline consumers the federal benefit of one Lifeline service per household by barring the consumer all Lifeline support, contrary to the FCC’s new regulatory framework established by the [January] Lifeline Reform Order,” NASUCA said (http://xrl.us/bmxuzo). The Puerto Rico board fired back that “nothing in the Commission’s Lifeline Reform Order requires the Board to adopt the IDRP.” The steps it takes are consistent with FCC rules, the board said (http://xrl.us/bmxus3). “Consistent with its authority under Commonwealth law, and within the framework set forth by the Commission, the Board is taking steps to reform the Lifeline program in Puerto Rico. Although the Commission’s Lifeline Reform Order explained how the IDRP program had been successful, it did not mandate that this was the only process for eliminating waste and fraud.”