NaLA Statement on Eleventh U.S. Circuit Court Decision
“The National Lifeline Association (NaLA) applauds the 11th Circuit Court’s decision to uphold the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund (USF) and the Federal Communications Commission’s use of Universal Service Administration Company (USAC) to administer USF programs, including Lifeline. This decision means that essential programs supporting low-income Americans who struggle to afford essential communications services…
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NaLA asks the FCC to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence
On April 12, NaLA submitted comments to the FCC on its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to implement requirements of the Safe Connections Act. The comments urge the FCC to designate the Lifeline program as the program to provide emergency communications for qualifying survivors suffering from financial hardship because: Lifeline is a permanent solution reliably funded…
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TracFone Files Second Emergency Petition on National Verifier
November 30, 2018 – TracFone Wireless filed an emergency petition on the National Verifier, urging the FCC to direct the USAC to implement fifteen specific modifications of the National Verifier and its associated processes. This petition follows an earlier filing from TracFone in August 2108, which raised many similar concerns about aspects of the (then…
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NaLA Files Comment on TracFone Emergency Petition Requesting National Verifier Delay
September 12, 2018 – The National Lifeline Association (NaLA) filed comments supporting the recent TracFone emergency petition requesting alterations to the Lifeline National Verifier by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), administrator of the Lifeline Program. TracFone Emergency Petition Requests FCC Delay USAC National Verifier Launch The emergency petition from TracFone urges the Federal Communications Commission…
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National Lifeline Association Comments In Support of Q Link’s Emergency Petition for API Interfaces
The National Lifeline Association (NaLA) commented on Q Link’s emergency petition for an order directing the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) to provide API Interfaces for the National Verifier. Q Link defends the need for APIs because they are critical for the Lifeline consumer enrollment process. The use of APIs would make the application process…
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FCC Public Notice Announces Universal Lifeline Forms
About the National Lifeline Association (NaLA): The National Lifeline Association is the only industry trade group specifically focused on the Lifeline segment of telecommunications. We support the 4 essential components of Lifeline: ETCs & Providers, Distributors, Lifeline Supporters & Participants, and Government & Regulatory Bodies. We are passionate about the continuity and advancement of the…
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FCC Seeks to Impose Cap on Lifeline Program
October 26, 2017 — Washington D.C. Recent FCC proposals seek to impose caps on Lifeline Program funds. Universal Service Funds & FCC Proposal for Cap on Lifeline Program The rulings would seek to impose a $2 Billion cap on the Lifeline Program, whose funds are administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company and account for…
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National Verifier Update
<H2>National Verifier Initial Launch States & Eligibility Verification Data Sources</H2> USAC announced the initial group of states that will roll into the National Verifier and the automated eligibility verification data sources that the National Verifier will use for each state. The initial launch states are: Colorado (automated data sources: SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing) Mississippi (automated data sources: SNAP,…
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FCC Releases Order on Reconsideration for Lifeline Broadband Providers (LBPs)
New FCC Chairman Pai released an Order on Reconsideration for LBP designations on Friday, allowing the FCC to reconsider the Lifeline Broadband Provider (LBP) designations for nine new Lifeline broadband providers. Recently effective changes per the 2016 Lifeline Modernization Order included the extension of the Lifeline Program to include broadband services. Inclusion of Lifeline-supported broadband allows…
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USAC Submits 2017 National Verifier Plan for Lifeline Program to FCC
Updates to the November 2016 Draft of the National Verifier Plan have been submitted to the FCC and the January 2017 National Verifier Plan is available to review. The rollout of this plan estimates that the system, which will replace annual Lifeline recertification and the FCC Form 497, will begin implementation on December 31 of... READ MORE