BellSouth told the Fla. PSC it lacks authority to set up an autom...
BellSouth told the Fla. PSC it lacks authority to set up an automatic Lifeline enrollment program through incumbent telcos and the state Dept. of Children & Families (DCF) because it has no jurisdiction over the DCF. BellSouth (now AT&T)…
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urged dismissal of a petition for automatic Lifeline enrollment filed by the AARP and state Office of Public Counsel. The petition said only one of 8 eligible Fla. households participates in Lifeline, and the state gets back only about 40% of the dollars it contributes to the federal Universal Service Fund. It said that automatic Lifeline enrollment for any household receiving public assistance from the DCF would be the most effective way to increase Lifeline participation and erase the universal service deficit. BellSouth (Case 06-0677-TL) said Lifeline is important for ensuring that all consumers have affordable access to telephone service, but the PSC can’t exercise a say over another state agency to expand Lifeline participation. It also said the PSC should give recent Lifeline enrollment efforts a chance to work.