Utah Aligns with FCC on Lifeline Eligibility
The Utah Public Service Commission took a step toward aligning state Lifeline rules with the updated federal program for low-income households. In an order Tuesday, the commission granted a CenturyLink request for waiver to use the same eligibility requirements for…
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federal and state Lifeline programs. The waiver becomes effective on the FCC’s Dec. 2 implementation deadline. To make the change permanent, the commission also proposed amending the Utah rule establishing the state Lifeline program to reflect the waiver decision and to align the rule with FCC regulations on recertification. The PSC said it expects to publish the amended rule Dec. 15 in the Utah State Bulletin, with a potential effective date of Jan. 24. By granting the waiver, the commission added Lifeline eligibility based on participation in the Veterans Pension and Survivors Pension Benefit program and removed eligibility based on participation in the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance program, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families and National School Free Lunch Program. The PSC said removing those programs “is not likely to disqualify any Utah consumers who are currently participating in the state Lifeline program.” An FCC Wireline Bureau official last week said the FCC will respond soon to USTelecom and state petitions to postpone the Dec. 2 deadline (see 1611140052).