TracFone Wireless is proposing changes to the FCC’s Lifeline program,...
TracFone Wireless is proposing changes to the FCC’s Lifeline program, to guard against fraud, said an ex parte filing (http://xrl.us/bmdeov). Among its proposals are requiring all eligible telecom carriers to collect date of birth and Social Security numbers from applicants,…
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to verify, under penalty of perjury, that all Lifeline customers remain eligible and to put in place policies for de-enrolling subscribers that don’t use the service or don’t pay their bills. “The best way to minimize waste, fraud, and abuse of USF resources is to identify Lifeline enrollment and program processes that effectively prevent fraudulent and wasteful use of USF funds and to require all ETCs to use those processes,” the carrier said. “There is no rational basis for treating ETCs differently based on whether they are wireless or wireline, facilities-based or resellers, prepaid or post-paid (billed service) providers or based on any other distinction.” TracFone’s SafeLink program has 3.7 million customers, the company said.