Wireless ETCs Object to Lifeline Snapshot Provision
A group of wireless carriers objected to a provision in the June FCC Lifeline order (see 1506180029) establishing “a uniform snapshot date for Lifeline reimbursements going forward.” The eligible telecom carriers (ETCs) said under the rule they would sometimes have…
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to provide service to Lifeline customers but not get compensated. “The new rule takes a snapshot of an ETC’s Lifeline subscribers as of the first of the month and provides reimbursements for the previous month’s service based on the number of subscribers in the snapshot,” the ETCs said in their petition for reconsideration. “To remedy the injustices described herein, the rule need only be modified to add to the snapshot count any subscribers de-enrolled in the previous month that received Lifeline service during that month.” The petition was the second wireless recon petition filed at the FCC. CTIA is challenging a different aspect of the rules (see 1508130048). Wireless ETCs American Broadband and Telecommunications, Assist Wireless, Easy Telephone, iWireless, Telrite, Telscape Communications and Total Call Mobile signed the petition. “Most egregiously,” ETCs wouldn't be reimbursed for service in the month of December for all subscribers that fail to recertify their eligibility annually because Universal Service Administrative Co. requires all such subscribers to be de-enrolled by Dec. 31, the filing said. “Annual recertification is the largest single de-enrollment event in the Lifeline program. Annual recertification failure rates vary by carrier from 10 to 50 percent.”