FCC Seeks Comment On TracFone's Request To Include The Children's Health Assistance Program as a Qualifying Lifeline Program

The Federal Communications Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed on July 13, 2012 by TracFone Wireless to include the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in the list of programs which qualify households for Lifeline under the Commission’s uniform eligibility criteria.

TracFone notes that in states where CHIP is administered as part of the Medicaid program, CHIP beneficiaries in those states qualify for Lifeline, but in other states where CHIP is administered as a program separate from Medicaid, CHIP beneficiaries do not qualify for Lifeline. TracFone argues that granting its request will advance the goal of ensuring universal availability of telecommunications services to low-income consumers and equalize the treatment of CHIP as a qualifying program across states.

Comments in this proceeding are due September 6, 2012; reply comments are due September 21, 2012