FCC Clarifies Lifeline Subscriber Usage Rules

The Federal Communications Commission Wireline Competition Bureau clarifies rules regarding subscriber usage of Lifeline-supported service established in the Lifeline Reform Order. The Bureau clarifies that, pursuant to the Lifeline Reform Order, an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) must both assess and collect a monthly fee from a subscriber in order to avoid the Lifeline usage requirements, including the requirement to de-enroll inactive subscribers who fail to sue the service within any consecutive 60-day period.