The Alaska Regulatory Commission (ARC) amended Lifeline and Link Up eligibility criteria to include an income-based standard, consistent with FCC Lifeline policies. Under the new rule (Case R-03-6), people with household income below 135% of the federal poverty line can receive Lifeline and Link Up subsidies. Previous eligibility criteria, based on enrollment in public assistance programs, will also continue to be used. The income rule also includes certification procedures for verifying income eligibility.
The Ohio PUC allowed Cincinnati Bell to come under the generic price cap regulation system applied to the state’s largest incumbent telcos. That program puts basic local services under non-indexed price caps and deregulates retail rates for all other services. The PUC dismissed pleas from the Ohio Office of Consumer Counsel for full evidentiary hearings and a formal finding that the change was in the public interest. The PUC deferred action on Cincinnati Bell’s request for waiver of the Lifeline program specified by the generic regulation plan. The PUC said it wanted time to consider the effects recent FCC Lifeline policy decisions would have on the generic system’s Lifeline program. The telco had wanted to continue the 2 Lifeline options it offered under its former company-specific cap program.