FCC Offers Guidance to Lifeline Providers Seeking Broadband Forbearance Relief
AT&T said it would opt into Lifeline broadband forbearance relief allowed by the FCC in its overhaul of the low-income subsidy program. "AT&T has long supported universal access to broadband for all Americans," said Senior Vice President Joan Marsh in…
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a blog post Wednesday. "And through our Access from AT&T low cost broadband program, we are making broadband a reality for low-income consumers for $10 a month or less. We believe that, at this time, Access from AT&T is a better way for AT&T to address broadband adoption than by participating in the new Lifeline broadband program." Meanwhile, FCC staff gave guidance to eligible telecom carriers on filing procedures for invoking broadband regulatory forbearance under the overhaul order. "The Commission forbore from requiring Lifeline-only eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) to offer Lifeline-supported BIAS [broadband internet access services]," said the Wireline Bureau order in docket 11-42 listed in Wednesday's Daily Digest. "It also forbore from requiring other ETCs (high-cost recipients) to offer Lifeline-supported BIAS in areas where they do not receive high-cost support or do not commercially offer broadband services that meet the Lifeline minimum service standards. Starting December 2, 2016, Lifeline-only ETCs and high-cost recipients are obligated to offer Lifeline-supported BIAS throughout their designated service areas, except to the extent that they have elected to avail themselves of forbearance relief from the obligation to provide Lifeline-supported BIAS. To elect forbearance relief from their obligations to offer Lifeline-supported BIAS, Lifeline-only ETCs and high-cost recipients must submit forbearance notifications to the Commission. This Public Notice provides additional guidance on the forbearance notification process and responds to certain questions staff have received."