Refocus Efforts on Stabilizing Lifeline, FCC Asked Amid Privacy, Other Concerns
Stakeholders want the FCC to delay further Lifeline changes and promptly answer an industry petition requesting a pause on stricter minimum broadband service standards set for Dec. 1 (see 1908300026), they said in interviews last week. A proposed order and…
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Further NPRM stirred some concern amid others that the poor could lose access to mobile broadband if the cost exceeds federal reimbursements. Last month, Chairman Ajit Pai circulated the "administrative clean-up" order and FNPRM (see 1908290028). Since a "highly problematic" 2017 NPRM on Lifeline fraud and abuse, Public Knowledge has been cautious about Pai's Lifeline proposals, said Policy Director Phillip Berenbroick. Industry groups are focusing on a representative accountability database (RAD) that collects personally identifying information (PII) from sales agents and employees of eligible telecom carriers (ETCs) who interact with the national verifier database to sign up and renew Lifeline subscribers. Mike Romano, NTCA senior vice president-business development and industry affairs, said ETC employees shouldn't have to provide PII because the telecom companies can track them down. Romano said the RAD asks for last four digits of a Social Security number and home address on a voluntary basis, saying such information would be required if the FCC doesn't decide otherwise by year-end. "It's hard to put the toothpaste back in the tube. If in four months, it turns out you don't need it, that information is already out there. If we're going to think this through, let's wait." ITTA had meetings involving the RAD, said President Genny Morelli, including some last week and others set for this week. ITTA, too, is arguing ETC employees who don't receive commissions to sign up Lifeline subscribers shouldn't have to register. If they do, information should be limited to name, title, business phone number and email, Morelli said. She's encouraged that commissioners' offices were still taking meetings. The petition to delay implementation of new service standards remains "under review," an agency spokesperson emailed Friday. The representative doesn't expect any draft items not covered in a news-media call last month (see 1908190028) to be controversial.