Rule2023-11103
Bridging the Digital Divide for Low-Income Consumers, Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization, Telecommunications Carriers Eligible for Universal Service Support
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 31, 2023
Effective
May 31, 2023
Issuing agencies
Federal Communications Commission
Abstract
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) is issuing a final rule for the Lifeline program.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 104 (Wednesday, May 31, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 31, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34782-34783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11103]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 54
[WC Docket Nos. 17-287, 11-42, 09-197; FCC 17-155; FR ID 141908]
Bridging the Digital Divide for Low-Income Consumers, Lifeline
and Link Up Reform and Modernization, Telecommunications Carriers
Eligible for Universal Service Support
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission
(Commission) is issuing a final rule for the Lifeline program.
DATES: This rule is effective May 31, 2023. As of May 31, 2023, the
amendments to 47 CFR 54.403(a)(3), 54.413, and 54.414(b), published
January 16, 2018, at 83 FR 2075, are withdrawn,
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicholas Page, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#88c6e1ebe0e7e4e9fba6d8e9efedc8eeebeba6efe7fe"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4c02252f2423202d3f621c2d2b290c2a2f2f622b233a">[email protected]</span></a>,
Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau,
(202) 418-7400 or TTY: (202) 418-0484.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Communications Commission
(Commission) adopted amendments to 47 CFR 54.403(a)(3), 54.413, and
54.414(b) that were to become effective upon announcement in the
Federal Register of OMB information collection approval (83 FR 2075,
January 16, 2018) (FR Doc. 2018-00152). These amended rules were
vacated by the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in National
Lifeline Association v. Federal Communications Commission. 921 F.3d
1102. Accordingly, revisions to Sec. 54.403(a)(3), third column on
page 2084; Sec. 54.413, first column on page 2085; and Sec.
54.414(b), second column on page 2085 are being withdrawn and these
rules are reverting back to their prior version.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 54
Communications common carriers, Health facilities, Internet,
Libraries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Schools, and
Telecommunications.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.
Final Rules
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal
Communications Commission amends 47 CFR part 54 to read as follows:
PART 54--UNIVERSAL SERVICE
0
1. The authority citation for part 54 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 155, 201, 205, 214, 219, 220,
229, 254, 303(r), 403, 1004, 1302, 1601-1609, and 1752, unless
otherwise noted.
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2. Amend Sec. 54.403 by revising paragraph (a)(3) to read as follows:
Sec. 54.403 Lifeline support amount.
* * * * *
(a) * * *
(3) Tribal lands support amount. Additional Federal Lifeline
support of up to $25 per month will be made available to an eligible
telecommunications carrier providing Lifeline service to an eligible
resident of Tribal lands, as defined in Sec. 54.400(e), to the extent
that the eligible telecommunications carrier certifies to the
Administrator that it will pass through the full Tribal lands support
amount to the qualifying eligible resident of Tribal lands and that it
has received any non-Federal regulatory approvals necessary to
implement the required rate reduction.
* * * * *
0
3. Revise Sec. 54.413 to read as follows:
Sec. 54.413 Link Up for Tribal lands.
(a) Definition. For purposes of this subpart, the term ``Tribal
Link Up'' means an assistance program for eligible residents of Tribal
lands seeking telecommunications service from a telecommunications
carrier that is receiving high-cost support on Tribal lands, pursuant
to subpart D of this part, that provides:
(1) A 100 percent reduction, up to $100, of the customary charge
for commencing telecommunications service for a single
telecommunications connection at a subscriber's principal place of
residence imposed by an eligible telecommunications carrier that is
also receiving high-cost support on Tribal lands, pursuant to subpart D
of this part. For purposes of this subpart, a ``customary charge for
commencing telecommunications service''' is the ordinary charge an
eligible telecommunications carrier imposes and collects from all
subscribers to initiate service with that eligible telecommunications
carrier. A charge imposed only on qualifying low-income consumers to
initiate service is not a customary charge for commencing
telecommunications service. Activation charges routinely waived,
reduced, or eliminated with the purchase of additional products,
services, or minutes are not customary charges
[[Page 34783]]
eligible for universal service support; and
(2) A deferred schedule of payments of the customary charge for
commencing telecommunications service for a single telecommunications
connection at a subscriber's principal place of residence imposed by an
eligible telecommunications carrier that is also receiving high-cost
support on Tribal lands, pursuant to subpart D of this part, for which
the eligible resident of Tribal lands does not pay interest. The
interest charges not assessed to the eligible resident of Tribal lands
shall be for a customary charge for connecting telecommunications
service of up to $200 and such interest charges shall be deferred for a
period not to exceed one year.
(b) An eligible resident of Tribal lands may receive the benefit of
the Tribal Link Up program for a second or subsequent time only for
otherwise qualifying commencement of telecommunications service at a
principal place of residence with an address different from the address
for which Tribal Link Up assistance was provided previously.
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4. Amend Sec. 54.414 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:
Sec. 54.414 Reimbursement for Tribal Link Up.
* * * * *
(b) In order to receive universal support reimbursement for
providing Tribal Link Up, eligible telecommunications carriers must
follow the procedures set forth in Sec. 54.410 to determine an
eligible resident of Tribal lands' initial eligibility for Tribal Link
Up. Eligible telecommunications carriers must obtain a certification
form from each eligible resident of Tribal lands that complies with
Sec. 54.410 prior to enrolling him or her in Tribal Link Up.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2023-11103 Filed 5-30-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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