The national Lifeline eligibility verifier adds soft launches June 25 in Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia, said an FCC Wireline Bureau public notice in Tuesday's Daily Digest. Eligible telecom carriers get access to the national verifier during the soft launch. Universal Service Administrative Co. will do training, and additional resources are available on the USAC website. The NV program launched last year in six states (see 1811020058) and has continued to roll out in increments. Lifeline advocates are concerned subscribership is decreasing under the current administration, and they want USAC to ensure the verifier can interface with other government databases to confirm eligibility for the low-income USF subsidy program (see 1901230036). Comments on a computer matching program the commission is testing with USAC, Georgia and Iowa are due Monday (see 1905230041).
The national Lifeline eligibility verifier adds soft launches June 25 in Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia, said an FCC Wireline Bureau public notice in Tuesday's Daily Digest. Eligible telecom carriers get access to the national verifier during the soft launch. Universal Service Administrative Co. will do training, and additional resources are available on the USAC website. The NV program launched last year in six states (see 1811020058) and has continued to roll out in increments. Lifeline advocates are concerned subscribership is decreasing under the current administration, and they want USAC to ensure the verifier can interface with other government databases to confirm eligibility for the low-income USF subsidy program (see 1901230036). Comments on a computer matching program the commission is testing with USAC, Georgia and Iowa are due Monday (see 1905230041).
NARUC's Telecom Committee unanimously cleared an amended Lifeline resolution urging the FCC and Universal Service Administrative Co. ensure the national verifier accesses state databases required to automatically check users are eligible. USAC is responding to concerns and committed to making the NV work, South Dakota Commissioner Chris Nelson told us after the vote.
NARUC's Telecom Committee unanimously cleared an amended Lifeline resolution urging the FCC and Universal Service Administrative Co. ensure the national verifier accesses state databases required to automatically check users are eligible. USAC is responding to concerns and committed to making the NV work, South Dakota Commissioner Chris Nelson told us after the vote.
Universal Service Administrative Co. hasn't de-enrolled any Lifeline users who failed the national verifier's automatic reverification, and no decision has been made on when that will happen, USAC Vice President-Lifeline Michelle Garber told the Telecom Staff Subcommittee at NARUC Sunday. A state commissioner and subcommittee members grilled Garber on high rates of users failing the automated check due to the NV not accessing all databases relevant to determining eligibility, with USAC not even trying to access them in higher cost states.
Universal Service Administrative Co. hasn't de-enrolled any Lifeline users who failed the national verifier's automatic reverification, and no decision has been made on when that will happen, USAC Vice President-Lifeline Michelle Garber told the Telecom Staff Subcommittee at NARUC Sunday. A state commissioner and subcommittee members grilled Garber on high rates of users failing the automated check due to the NV not accessing all databases relevant to determining eligibility, with USAC not even trying to access them in higher cost states.
The FCC will investigate if top wireless carriers submitted incorrect coverage maps in violation of Mobility Fund Phase II rules, Chairman Ajit Pai said Friday. The commission suspended the window for responding to MF-II challenges until the probe’s conclusion. Carriers said they'll cooperate. FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, state commissioners and rural competitive carriers welcomed investigation, saying more work is needed.
The FCC will investigate if top wireless carriers submitted incorrect coverage maps in violation of Mobility Fund Phase II rules, Chairman Ajit Pai said Friday. The commission suspended the window for responding to MF-II challenges until the probe’s conclusion. Carriers said they'll cooperate. FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, state commissioners and rural competitive carriers welcomed investigation, saying more work is needed.
Rural telco groups endorsed a draft FCC order to offer increased USF support to rate-of-return carriers in exchange for more 25/3 Mbps broadband deployment, tentatively set for a Dec. 12 vote (see 1811210032). The draft "would take substantial steps toward fulfillment of statutory mandates with respect to predictability and sufficiency, promote the effectiveness of existing USF support mechanisms," promote network investment, and ensure service availability "on a reasonably comparable basis between rural and urban areas," filed NTCA, on meetings with aides to all commissioners and with Wireline Bureau staffers (here and here), posted through Friday in docket 10-90. Meeting aides to Chairman Ajit Pai and Mike O'Rielly, ITTA backed "increased funding for A-CAM [Alternative Connect America Cost Model] carriers and attendant commitments to buildout at additional locations at speeds of 25/3 Mbps; ensuring sufficient and predictable support for legacy rate-of-return carriers; a new model offer for legacy carriers; and separate budgets for the model-based and legacy programs." Nebraska A-CAM Companies support "adoption of a voluntary offer of additional funding up to $200/month per location for existing A-CAM recipients, with modified deployment obligations, as set forth in the draft order," filed consultant Carol Mattey, on meetings with O'Rielly and aides to all commissioners (here and here). They backed "extending a new offer of A-CAM support to all companies not currently receiving A-CAM support and would not limit such an offer to those companies that would receive less support under the model than their current support." USTelecom discussed with O'Rielly aides how the draft compared with proposals submitted by associations and "addressed the potential impacts of a second ACAM offer and the lack of a challenge process in determining overlap."
Rural telco groups endorsed a draft FCC order to offer increased USF support to rate-of-return carriers in exchange for more 25/3 Mbps broadband deployment, tentatively set for a Dec. 12 vote (see 1811210032). The draft "would take substantial steps toward fulfillment of statutory mandates with respect to predictability and sufficiency, promote the effectiveness of existing USF support mechanisms," promote network investment, and ensure service availability "on a reasonably comparable basis between rural and urban areas," filed NTCA, on meetings with aides to all commissioners and with Wireline Bureau staffers (here and here), posted through Friday in docket 10-90. Meeting aides to Chairman Ajit Pai and Mike O'Rielly, ITTA backed "increased funding for A-CAM [Alternative Connect America Cost Model] carriers and attendant commitments to buildout at additional locations at speeds of 25/3 Mbps; ensuring sufficient and predictable support for legacy rate-of-return carriers; a new model offer for legacy carriers; and separate budgets for the model-based and legacy programs." Nebraska A-CAM Companies support "adoption of a voluntary offer of additional funding up to $200/month per location for existing A-CAM recipients, with modified deployment obligations, as set forth in the draft order," filed consultant Carol Mattey, on meetings with O'Rielly and aides to all commissioners (here and here). They backed "extending a new offer of A-CAM support to all companies not currently receiving A-CAM support and would not limit such an offer to those companies that would receive less support under the model than their current support." USTelecom discussed with O'Rielly aides how the draft compared with proposals submitted by associations and "addressed the potential impacts of a second ACAM offer and the lack of a challenge process in determining overlap."