National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier Launches in California

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau announced the full launch of the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier (National Verifier) in California, effective December 18, 2020. Given the unique circumstances in California, where the state agency conducts Lifeline eligibility determinations directly, the Bureau and the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) have collaborated with the state to enable it to continue to conduct eligibility verification for the federal Lifeline program in partnership with National Verifier. California has managed eligibility verification and duplicate checking for the federal Lifeline program in parallel with administering its own state low-income subsidy program for many years. Additionally, California does not participate in the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD). In light of that waiver and the systems California already has in place, the National Verifier will leverage the state’s existing processes so that Lifeline consumers in California can continue to apply using a streamlined state application process for both federal and state benefits.