Goto Section: 54.321 | 54.403 | Table of Contents
FCC 54.401
Revised as of October 5, 2017
Goto Year:2016 |
2018
§ 54.401 Lifeline defined.
(a) As used in this subpart, Lifeline means a non-transferable retail
service offering provided directly to qualifying low-income consumers:
(1) For which qualifying low-income consumers pay reduced charges as a
result of application of the Lifeline support amount described in
§ 54.403; and
(2) That provides qualifying low-income consumers with voice telephony
service or broadband Internet access service as defined in § 54.400.
Toll limitation service does not need to be offered for any Lifeline
service that does not distinguish between toll and non-toll calls in
the pricing of the service. If an eligible telecommunications carrier
charges Lifeline subscribers a fee for toll calls that is in addition
to the per month or per billing cycle price of the subscribers'
Lifeline service, the carrier must offer toll limitation service at no
charge to its subscribers as part of its Lifeline service offering.
(b) Eligible telecommunications carriers may allow qualifying
low-income consumers to apply Lifeline discounts to any residential
service plan with the minimum service levels set forth in § 54.408 that
includes fixed or mobile voice telephony service, broadband Internet
access service, or a bundle of broadband Internet access service and
fixed or mobile voice telephony service; and plans that include
optional calling features such as, but not limited to, caller
identification, call waiting, voicemail, and three-way calling.
(1) Eligible telecommunications carriers may permit qualifying
low-income consumers to apply their Lifeline discount to family shared
data plans.
(2) Eligible telecommunications carriers may allow qualifying
low-income consumers to apply Lifeline discounts to any residential
service plan that includes voice telephony service without qualifying
broadband Internet access service prior to December 1, 2021.
(3) Beginning December 1, 2016, eligible telecommunications carriers
must provide the minimum service levels for each offering of mobile
voice service as defined in § 54.408.
(4) Beginning December 1, 2021, eligible telecommunications carriers
must provide the minimum service levels for broadband Internet access
service in every Lifeline offering.
(c) Eligible telecommunications carriers may not collect a service
deposit in order to initiate Lifeline for voice-only service plans
that:
(1) Do not charge subscribers additional fees for toll calls; or
(2) That charge additional fees for toll calls, but the subscriber
voluntarily elects toll limitation service.
(d) When an eligible telecommunications carrier is designated by a
state commission, the state commission shall file or require the
eligible telecommunications carrier to file information with the
Administrator demonstrating that the carrier's Lifeline plan meets the
criteria set forth in this subpart and describing the terms and
conditions of any voice telephony service plans offered to Lifeline
subscribers, including details on the number of minutes provided as
part of the plan, additional charges, if any, for toll calls, and rates
for each such plan. To the extent the eligible telecommunications
carrier offers plans to Lifeline subscribers that are generally
available to the public, it may provide summary information regarding
such plans, such as a link to a public Web site outlining the terms and
conditions of such plans. Lifeline assistance shall be made available
to qualifying low-income consumers as soon as the Administrator
certifies that the carrier's Lifeline plan satisfies the criteria set
out in this subpart.
(e) Consistent with § 52.33(a)(1)(i)(C) of this chapter, eligible
telecommunications carriers may not charge Lifeline customers a monthly
number-portability charge.
(f) Eligible telecommunications carriers may aggregate eligible
subscribers' benefits to provide a collective service to a group of
subscribers, provided that each qualifying low-income consumer
subscribed to the collective service receives residential service that
meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and § 54.408.
[ 77 FR 12967 , Mar. 2, 2012, as amended at 80 FR 40935 , July 14, 2015;
81 FR 33090 , May 24, 2016]
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Goto Section: 54.321 | 54.403
Goto Year: 2016 |
2018
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