TracFone asked the FCC for clarity on the Puerto Rico...
TracFone asked the FCC for clarity on the Puerto Rico Telecommunications Regulatory Board’s policy on whether the company can contact customers there who were de-enrolled from the Lifeline program for receiving duplicate service, in violation of commission rules (http://xrl.us/bm3ehh). The…
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low-cost wireless carrier said the board has sent different messages. Directives issued in January and early February instructed eligible telecom carriers to “de-enroll all duplicates on March 1, 2012, and April 1, 2012, respectively, and that such de-enrolled duplicates would be prohibited from receiving Lifeline benefits for prescribed periods of time.” That led to complaints filed at the FCC by TracFone and others, the filing said (CD Feb 24 p13). But in a March 7 order, the board “revised its prior debarment of de-enrolled duplicates from receiving any Lifeline-supported service for four months by allowing such de-enrolled customers to re-enroll without waiting four months,” TracFone said. “However, such de-enrolled customers may only re-enroll in the Lifeline program of the ETC to whose service the Lifeline ’subsidy was first applied.'” That was followed by a March 26 letter to those de-enrolled. The letter said in part “those who received the communication informing them that their subsidy service would be suspended by March 1, 2012, can immediately request, with the company of their preference, only one subsidy for wireline or wireless service per person, as long as they comply with the criteria for eligibility,” TracFone reported. It also informed customers that “if your wireline or wireless provider does not inform you correctly, you may visit the Telecommunications Board of Puerto Rico offices personally or you may request information by sending a letter to [the Board].” The carrier said the messages from the board had left it confused. “By indicating that consumers may now request immediate re-enrollment with the company of their preference, the Board’s March 26 notice would appear to contradict the Board’s March 7 Order which expressly limited re-enrollment to the Lifeline service of the ETC who served the customer first,” the company said. “Also, the notice’s statement about contacting the Board if the consumer’s wireline or wireless company does not inform the consumer correctly seems to suggest that wireline and wireless ETCs may communicate with their de-enrolled Lifeline customers.”