Lifeline ETCs Urge FCC to Remedy Texas Lifeline Problems
Lifeline eligible telecom carriers offered the FCC an alternative to revoking Texas’ opt-out certification from the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD). The National Lifeline Association (NaLA) proposed revoking opt-out to remedy a state process ETCs say is preventing reimbursement (see…
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2007020033). In comments posted Monday in docket 11-42, TracFone agreed with NaLA that the Texas system doesn’t comply with NLAD opt-out requirements or federal Lifeline rules. Rather than revoke the PUC’s opt-out, the FCC should clarify that the Texas low-income discount administrator’s (LIDA) real-time verification process using an application programming interface between LIDA and ETCs can be used for reimbursement, rather than rely on an end-of-month report that doesn’t include subscribers who enroll in the second half of the month, TracFone said. Allowing only the report “has resulted in Texas ETCs being the subject of unwarranted audits and demands for return of USF support by” Universal Service Administrative Co., and FCC probes and enforcement actions, it said. The current situation harms Lifeline ETCs and customers, but revoking opt-out could cause disruption, so clarify the real-time API approach may be used, Q Link Wireless asked. If the FCC won’t revoke opt-out status, condition Texas keeping it, said TruConnect. “The current trajectory will result not only in improper underpayments to ETCs, but also enforcement and audit actions based upon erroneous legal and factual conclusions. These results abuse the dwindling group of carriers still willing and able to provide critical Lifeline services in Texas.” The Texas PUC is looking into the problems, saying ETCs should have come to the state agency first (see 2007100027).