FCC Announces County Conditional Forbearance from Lifeline

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau announces the counties in which conditional forbearance from the obligation to offer Lifeline-supported voice service applies, pursuant to the Commission’s 2016 Lifeline Order. This forbearance applies only to the Lifeline voice obligation of eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) that are designated for purposes of receiving both high-cost and Lifeline support, and not to Lifeline-only ETCs. The Bureau identifies the counties in which certain competitive conditions are met. In particular, the FCC grants forbearance from high-cost/Lifeline ETCs’ obligation to offer and advertise Lifeline voice service in counties where 51 percent of Lifeline subscribers in the county are obtaining broadband Internet access service, there are at least three other providers of Lifeline broadband Internet access service that each serve at least five percent of Lifeline subscribers in that county, and the ETC does not receive federal high-cost universal service support. The FCC's conditional forbearance from high-cost/Lifeline ETCs’ Lifeline voice obligation will be effective on September 21, 2021.