Iowa Admin. Code r. 199-39.6 - Universal service support for low-income consumers (Lifeline program and Tribal Link Up program)
(1)
Carrier obligation to offer Lifeline. Pursuant to
47 CFR §
54.405, which specifies the Lifeline
obligations of eligible telecommunications carriers, all eligible
telecommunications carriers must make available Lifeline service, as defined in
47 CFR §
54.401, to qualifying low-income consumers,
defined as consumers who meet the qualifications for Lifeline as specified in
47 CFR §
54.409. Eligible telecommunications carriers
must comply with the minimum service standards specified in
47 CFR §
54.408.
(2)
Customer notification.
Eligible telecommunications carriers shall include a description of their
Lifeline offerings or discounts in their residential service agreements.
Eligible telecommunications carriers shall provide the board with information
about their residential service agreements upon request. Eligible
telecommunications carriers shall publicize the availability of Lifeline
service in a manner reasonably designed to reach those likely to qualify for
service as required by
47 CFR §
54.405(b).
(3)
Consumer qualification for
Lifeline. To qualify for Lifeline, a consumer must meet the
qualifications for Lifeline as specified in
47 CFR §
54.409. A consumer may only receive one
Lifeline service per household.
(4)
Determination of subscriber eligibility. Until the national
Lifeline eligibility verifier becomes responsible for the initial determination
of Iowa consumers' eligibility for Lifeline assistance, Iowa eligible
telecommunications carriers are responsible for establishing consumer
eligibility for Lifeline assistance. Iowa eligible telecommunications carriers
shall ensure that their Lifeline subscribers are eligible to receive Lifeline
services in accordance with
47 CFR
§
54.410. Eligible telecommunications
carriers shall:
a. Implement policies and
procedures for ensuring that their Lifeline subscribers are eligible to receive
Lifeline services;
b. Confirm a
subscriber's income-based or program-based eligibility according to
47 CFR
§
54.410(b) or
(c);
c. Provide prospective subscribers Lifeline
certification forms that comply with
47 CFR
§
54.410(d);
and
d. Recertify all subscribers'
Lifeline eligibility in accordance with
47 CFR
§
54.410(f) and
(g).
(5)
Annual certifications by eligible
telecommunications carriers. Eligible telecommunications carriers
shall make and submit to the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC)
annual certifications relating to the Lifeline program as required by
47
CFR §
54.416. Eligible
telecommunications carriers shall file their annual Lifeline certifications
with the board as provided in 39.7(1)"a" and, if applicable,
with the relevant tribal governments.
(6)
Tribal Link Up. A
telecommunications carrier receiving high-cost support on tribal lands that is
offering the Tribal Link Up assistance program, as defined in
199-39.2 (476), to eligible
residents of tribal lands, as defined in
47 CFR §
54.400(e), must provide (1)
a 100 percent reduction of the customary connection charge for commencing
service at a subscriber's residence, and (2) a deferred schedule of
interest-free payments for the connection charge, pursuant to
47 CFR §
54.413. Prior to enrolling an eligible
resident of tribal lands in the Tribal Link Up program, an ETC must obtain from
the resident a certification form that complies with
47 CFR
§
54.410.
(7)
Audits. Eligible
telecommunications carriers shall file with the board finalized reports of
audits involving the audited ETC's operations in Iowa conducted pursuant to
47 CFR §
54.420 requiring low-income program audits.
The audit reports will not be considered or deemed confidential. The audit
reports shall be filed with the board within 30 days of issuance of the final
audit report.
Notes
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