FCC Asks Joint Board for Lifeline/LinkUp Review, Recommendations by Nov 4

The Federal Communications Commission has asked the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service to review the Commission's eligibility, verification, and outreach rules for the Lifeline and Link Up universal service programs, which currently provide discounts on telephone service for low-income customers.

Specifically, any changes to these aspects of the Lifeline and Link Up programs that may be necessary, given significant technological and marketplace changes since the current rules were adopted, based on consideration of:

1) the combination of federal and state rules that govern which customers are eligible to receive discounts through the Lifeline and Link Up programs;

2) best practices among states for effective and efficient verification of customer eligibility, both at initial customer sign-up and periodically thereafter;

3) appropriateness of various outreach and enrollment programs; and

4) the potential expansion of the low-income program to broadband, as recommended in the National Broadband Plan.

The FCC requests that the Joint Board complete the review and make recommendations to the FCC within six months.