Goto Section: 54.1607 | 54.1609 | Table of Contents
FCC 54.1608
Revised as of September 1, 2021
Goto Year:2020 |
2022
§ 54.1608 Reimbursement for providing Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
discount.
(a) Emergency Broadband Benefit Program support for providing a
qualifying broadband internet access service shall be provided directly
to a participating provider based on the number of actual qualifying
low-income households listed in the National Lifeline Accountability
Database that the participating provider serves directly as of the
first of the month.
(b) For each eligible household receiving Emergency Broadband
Benefit-supported service, the reimbursement amount shall equal the
appropriate support amount as described in 47 CFR 54.1603, except as
otherwise provided by 47 CFR 54.1603(c). The participating provider's
Emergency Broadband Benefit Program reimbursement shall not exceed the
participating provider's standard rate for that offering.
(c) A participating provider offering an Emergency Broadband Benefit
Program service with a standard rate that does not require the
participating provider to assess and collect a monthly fee from its
subscribers must certify that every subscriber claimed has used their
supported service, as defined by 47 CFR 54.407(c)(2), at least once
during the service month being claimed prior in order to claim that
subscriber for reimbursement in that month.
(d) A participating provider that, in addition to providing the
Emergency Broadband Benefit to an eligible household, provides such
household with a connected device may be reimbursed up to $100.00 for
such connected device, if the charge to such eligible household is more
than $10.00 but less than $50.00 for such connected device, except that
a participating provider may receive reimbursement for no more than one
(1) connected device per eligible household.
(e) In order to receive Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
reimbursement, an officer of the participating provider must certify,
as part of each request for reimbursement, that:
(1) The officer is authorized to submit the request on behalf of the
participating provider;
(2) The officer has read the instructions relating to reimbursements
and the funds sought in the reimbursement request are for services
and/or devices that were provided in accordance with the Emergency
Broadband Benefit Program rules and requirements;
(3) The participating provider is in compliance with all of the rules
in this subpart;
(4) The participating provider has obtained valid certification and
application forms as required by the rules in this subpart for each of
the subscribers for whom it is seeking reimbursement;
(5) The amount for which the participating provider is seeking
reimbursement from the Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund is not
more than the standard rate;
(6) Each eligible household for which the participating provider is
seeking reimbursement for providing an internet service offering—
(i) Has not been and will not be charged—
(A) For such offering, if the standard rate for such offering is less
than or equal to the amount of the emergency broadband benefit for such
household; or
(B) More for such offering than the difference between the standard
rate for such offering and the amount of the emergency broadband
benefit for such household;
(ii) Will not be required to pay an early termination fee if such
eligible household elects to enter into a contract to receive such
internet service offering if such household later terminates such
contract;
(iii) Was not, after the date of the enactment of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, subject to a mandatory waiting period for such
internet service offering based on having previously received broadband
internet access service from such participating provider; and
(iv) Will otherwise be subject to the participating provider's
generally applicable terms and conditions as applied to other
customers.
(7) Each eligible household for which the participating provider is
seeking reimbursement for supplying such household with a connected
device was charged by the provider more than $10.00 but less than
$50.00 for such connected device;
(8) That the connected device claimed meets the Commission's
requirements, that the reimbursement claim amount reflects the market
value of the device, and that the connected device has been delivered
to the household;
(9) The process used by the participating provider to verify that a
household is eligible for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, if
the provider elects an alternative verification process and that such
verification process was designed to avoid waste, fraud, and abuse.
(10) The provider has retained the relevant supporting documents that
demonstrate the connected devices requested are eligible for
reimbursement;
(11) All documentation associated with the reimbursement form,
including all records for services and/or connected devices provided,
will be retained for a period of at least six years after the last date
of delivery of the supported services and/or connected devices provided
through the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, and are subject to
audit;
(12) The provider neither received nor paid kickbacks, as defined by 41
U.S.C. 8701, in connection with the Emergency Broadband Benefit
Program;
(13) The information contained in this form is true, complete, and
accurate to the best of the officer's knowledge, information, and
belief, and is based on information known to the officer or provided to
officer by employees responsible for the information being submitted;
(14) The officer is aware that any false, fictitious, or fraudulent
information, or the omission of any material fact, may subject the
officer to criminal, civil, or administrative penalties for fraud,
false statements, false claims, or otherwise. (18 U.S.C. 286-287, 1001,
1341, 31 U.S.C. 3729-3730, 3801-3812.); and
(15) No service costs or devices sought for reimbursement have been
waived, paid, or promised to be paid by another entity, including any
Federal program.
(f) In order to receive Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
reimbursement, a participating provider must keep accurate records of
the revenues it forgoes in providing Emergency Broadband
Benefit-supported services. Such records shall be kept in the form
directed by the Administrator and provided to the Administrator at
intervals as directed by the Administrator or as provided in this
subpart.
(g) In order to receive reimbursement, participating providers shall
submit certified reimbursement claims through Lifeline Claims System by
the 15th of each month, or the following business day in the event the
15th is a holiday or falls on a weekend. If the participating provider
fails to submit a certified reimbursement claim by the deadline for
that month, the reimbursement claim will not be processed.
Goto Section: 54.1607 | 54.1609
Goto Year: 2020 |
2022
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