UPDATE – Digital Television (DTV) Notification

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is requiring all eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) that receive federal universal service funds to provide information about the television broadcasting transition from analog to digital service (the "DTV Transition") to their Lifeline and Link Up customers. See FCC 08-56 released March 3, 2008.

The FCC released a reconsideration order (FCC 08-119) April 23 that expanded its rules regarding the method in which ETCs must notify their Lifeline and Link Up customers of the February 2009 DTV transition. ETCs are now permitted to mail customers monthly stand-alone outreach materials (brochures, postcards, etc.) instead of including the notice as a monthly bill insert. The language that must be included on the mailer has not changed.

ETCs are still required to include DTV transition information on all Lifeline and Link Up outreach materials. These revised rules will be effective May 30, 2008. However, carriers may still use stand-alone mailers for the April 30 deadline.

For more information on these requirements, please see USAC's March 19 DTV Important Notice.

2007 Lifeline Program Participation Rate Data

Each year, USAC staff completes a study of participation rates in the Lifeline program in each state. The study uses United States Census data to determine the number of households in the United States. The study compares the eligibility criteria used by each state against government and other publicly available data to determine the number of households eligible under each program. In addition, because many states, including those that use the federal default criteria, include income as a criterion, the study uses the Poverty Guidelines to determine the number of households eligible based on income in these states. The study relies on data published for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Food Stamps to calculate an average number (54%) of households that are receiving assistance through more than one program. This amount was subtracted from the total number of eligible households in states that included multiple programs in their eligibility criteria. The study then compares the number of eligible households in each state against USAC's data on Lifeline participation to calculate an estimated participation rate for each state.

2007 Lifeline Participation Rate Data

• 2007 Participation Rates by State
  This map shows the Lifeline participation rates by state for 2007. Eligibility criteria differ by state and sometimes by individual telephone company.
• 2007 ETC with the Most Lifeline Subscribers by State
  This map shows the eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) that serves the most Lifeline subscribers in each state. ETCs with multiply study area codes have been combined within each state.

2006 Lifeline Participation Rate Data

• 2006 Participation Rates by State
• 2006 ETC with the Most Lifeline Subscribers by State

2005 Lifeline Participation Rate Data

• 2005 Participation Rates by State
• 2005 ETC with the Most Lifeline Subscribers by State

Digital Television (DTV) Notification

On March 28, 2008, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice announcing the effective date for the new rule requiring ETCs to notify Lifeline customers about the upcoming transition to digital television is March 31, 2008. Accordingly, as of March 31, 2008, ETCs must begin using bill inserts or language on a monthly bill to notify their Lifeline and Link Up customers about the DTV transition. For more information please see the March 19 DTV Important Notice.

High Cost and Low Income Training Session to be held May 8, 2008 in Washington, DC

Learn more about the High Cost and Low Income program rules by attending USAC's upcoming training session.

As part of its outreach initiative, USAC will hold a series of one-day training events for companies that participate in the High Cost and Low Income support programs. These training sessions are designed to provide guidance on High Cost and Low Income program rules, audits and support payment calculations. Company representatives, consultants and attorneys working with eligible telecommunications carriers are invited to attend.

The first High Cost and Low Income Training Session will be held on Thursday, May 8 at USAC's headquarters in Washington, DC. Additional sessions will be held later in 2008 in Chicago, Denver and Dallas.

There is no charge for attending the High Cost and Low Income Training Session. For more information and registration materials please see the Training Events page.

Sample Agenda for May 8 Training Session

Morning (9:00 a.m until 12:00 p.m.)

High Cost and Low Income Program overviews
Understanding the Process of Filing Certifications, Verifications and Line Counts
Disbursement Calculation and Payment Adjustments

LUNCH

Afternoon (1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.)

What to Expect from Audits and Site Visits
Best Practices in Advertising Supported Services
Demonstration of the New High Cost FCC Form 525 On-line Filing

ETCs Must Notify Lifeline Customers about the Transition to Digital Television (DTV)

On March 3, 2008, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Report and Order requiring all eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) that receive federal universal service funds to provide information about the television broadcasting transition from analog to digital service (the "DTV Transition") to their Lifeline and Link Up customers. The notification requirement will go into effect 30 days after the FCC's Order is published in the Federal Register, and will remain in effect through March 2009.

ETCs must use bill inserts or language on a monthly bill to notify their Lifeline and Link Up customers about DTV Transition. The FCC's rules mandate that each DTV Transition notice convey at least the following information:

"After February 17, 2009, a television receiver with only an analog broadcast tuner will require a converter box to receive over-the-air broadcasts with an antenna because of the Nation's transition to digital broadcasting. Analog-only TVs should continue to work as before with cable and satellite TV services, gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD players, and similar products."

"Information about the DTV transition is available from www.DTV.gov and from www.dtv2009.gov or 1-888-DTV-2009 for information about subsidized coupons for digital-to-analog converter boxes."

The FCC's rules also require that DTV Transition notices must be:

• part of the bill or bill notice, a bill insert or a secondary notice mailed with the bill or bill notice;
• in the same language or languages as the bill or bill notice;
• in clear and conspicuous print; and
• provided in the same medium as the customer's monthly bill information, if the customer does not receive paper versions of either a bill or notice of billing.

ETCs must also provide information on the DTV Transition in conjunction with any publicity campaign conducted to promote Lifeline and Link Up.

These requirements are set out in the Code of Federal Regulations at 47 C.F.R. 54.418. Please contact the FCC for additional information.

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2008 Federal Poverty Guidelines Released

On January 23, 2008 the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released the 2008 Federal Poverty Guidelines in the Federal Register, 73 Fed. Reg. 3971-3972 (January 23, 2008).  ETCs in federal default states, ETCs with customers residing on federally recognized tribal lands, and ETCs in non-federal defaults states that use total household income as a criterion for Lifeline and Link Up should update any materials containing the federal poverty guidelines. 

USAC has updated all pages on www.lifelinesupport.org to reflect these changes.  USAC also posts the federal poverty guidelines at 100%, 125%, 135%, 150%, and 175% because some states have an income-based eligibility criterion at one of these levels  Please contact USAC’s Low Income Team via e-mail with any questions.

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Notice to Eligible Telecommunications Carriers Serving Low-Income Lifeline Customers: Deadline for Filing FCC Form 497 for 2006 is March 31, 2008

March 31, 2008 is the last day to file FCC Form 497, new or revised,  for any month in 2006.

USAC's administrative window for submitting FCC Form 497 will close March 31, 2008, for all months prior to January 2007. This applies to submission of data on FCC Form 497, including original (first-time) submissions and revisions of previously submitted data. Therefore, we would like to remind all eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) to submit to USAC any FCC Form 497s for any month in 2006 prior to March 31, 2008. USAC's administrative window for submitting data for the year 2005 and all prior years is currently closed.

FCC Form 497 is available on USAC's web site. You may submit FCC Form 497 via e-mail or via fax to 866-873-4665. Signed e-mailed copies can be sent in Excel or Adobe format.  You may also mail FCC Form 497 to the following address:

USAC - Low Income Program
444 Hoes Lane
Piscataway, NJ 08854

Should you have further questions, please contact the Low Income Customer Service Center at 866-873(USF)-4727.

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Is Your Company Listed on USAC's Consumer Website www.lifelinesupport.org?

More than 800 ETCs have used the online Lifeline Support ETC Posting Tool to create a company page with outreach information for low-income consumers concerning the availability of Lifeline and Link Up on www.lifelinesupport.org.  This website is designed to assist low-income consumers in their search for telephone service.  The tool includes links to each company’s home website, downloadable applications, and a customer service number which allows consumers to find important information easily and quickly.  Please use the following link to submit your company’s data:

Online Tool: E-mail your SPIN and SAC combination to USAC to receive login information.

Instructions: PowerPoint Presentation

The online tool will allow you to make updates to your company’s page at any time without having to reenter the same data.  Please let USAC know if you have any questions or comments via E-mail.

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