FCC Record, Volume 27, No. 8, Pages 6653 to 6954, Supplement (February-March 2012) Page: 6,678
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46. In 2005, the Commission concluded that an applicant seeking ETC designation by the
Commission must demonstrate that it offers local usage comparable to that offered by the incumbent
LEC."6 In its 2010 Joint Board Recommended Decision, the Joint Board urged the Commission to
consider prepaid wireless Lifeline issues, including the need for minimum standards of service for
Lifeline recipients."' Additionally, the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates
(NASUCA) adopted a resolution recommending that the Commission consider establishing minimum
standards of service for pre-paid wireless Lifeline service, expressing concerns that "free" Lifeline calling
plans offered by some wireless ETCs include limited usage minutes and require subscribers needing
additional minutes to purchase those minutes from the carrier, and indicating that it is not evident whether
such calling plans offer local usage comparable to available incumbent carriers' calling plans."8
Accordingly, the Commission sought comment on adopting minimum standards for all ETCs offering
Lifeline service."19
47. Discussion. We now update the definition of Lifeline to be consistent with our newly
revised definition of the supported service as "voice telephony service."'20 As we recently noted in the
USF/ICC Transformation Order and FNPRM, voice telephony may be provisioned over broadband (IP-
enabled) networks.21' By updating the definition, we allow carriers to provide service using new
technologies that will result in additional options and benefits to Lifeline consumers. At this time, we do
not find it necessary to require ETCs that offer service at no charge to Lifeline subscribers to adhere to
additional service requirements.
48. Consistent with our recent amendment to section 54.101, eligible Lifeline telephony
services therefore must provide voice grade access to the public switched telephone network or its
functional equivalent; minutes of use for local service provided at no additional charge to end users;"r
access to emergency 911 and enhanced 911 service to the extent the local government in an eligible
carrier's service area has implemented 911 or enhanced 911 systems; and toll limitation at no charge to
qualifying low-income consumers subject to the requirements and limitations discussed more fully
(Continued from previous page)
on Reconsideration).
116 Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, CC Dkt. No. 96-45, Report and Order, 20 FCC Red 6371, 6380,
para. 20 (2005) (ETC Designation Order).
117 2010 Joint Board Recommended Decision, 25 FCC Rcd at 15627, para. 80.
8 National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates, Resolution 2010-02, Calling for Reform of the
Lifeline Program, Including Reform for Prepaid Wireless Lifeline Services, at 2-3 (June 15, 2010) (NASUCA
Resolution).
119 Lifeline and Link Up NPRMIl, 26 FCC Red at 2817, para. 253 (inquiring whether the Commission should establish
national parameters for a basic Lifeline service).
120 See USF/ICC Transformation Order on Reconsideration, FCC 11-189 at para. 3. In response to the Lifeline and
Link Up NiPRAM, some commenters supported amending the definition of Lifeline to provide support for "voice
telephony service." See Cricket Comments at 15-16: Florida PSC Comments at 29.
'21 See USF/ICC Transformation Order and FNPRM. FCC 11-161 at para. 63 (explaining how consumers are
increasingly obtaining voice services over broadband networks as well as over traditional circuit switched telephone
networks).
2 We note that the Vermont Public Service Board has filed a Motion for Clarification regarding this aspect of the
definition adopted in the USF/ICC Transformation Order and FNPRM, which will be addressed after receipt of
public comment on this petition. See Vermont Public Service Board Motion For Clarification, WC Dkt. No. 10-90
et at, at 3 (filed Dec. 28, 2012).6678
Federal Communications Commission
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United States. Federal Communications Commission. FCC Record, Volume 27, No. 8, Pages 6653 to 6954, Supplement (February-March 2012), book, 2012; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc111169/m1/36/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.