Inspector General Issues Advisory Regarding Lifeline Usage Compliance

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Federal Communications Commission alerted Lifeline carriers, beneficiaries, and the public to the potential for widespread carrier non-compliance with the Lifeline usage rule. The Advisory provides examples of usage rule violations the OIG has encountered in its ongoing investigations of Lifeline carriers, including reimbursements sought for subscriber accounts that have never had any qualifying usage. OIG warns all Lifeline carriers to examine their usage monitoring mechanisms and take appropriate remedial measures if problems are discovered.