PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
th
St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: https://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 16-1133
Released:  October 3, 2016
WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU ANNOUNCES EFFECTIVE DATES FOLLOWING 
APPROVAL BY THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET OF LIFELINE RULES IN 
THE LIFELINE MODERNIZATION ORDER
WC Docket Nos. 11-42, 09-197
On April 27, 2016, the Federal Communications Commission released the 2016 Lifeline 
Modernization Order with the goals of connecting low-income Americans to the Internet and reforming 
program management to ensure fiscal integrity of the Lifeline program going forward.
1
  
On September 20, 2016, the Commission received Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
approval of modified information collection requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA).
2
  The announcement of OMB approval of the rules was published in the Federal Register on 
October 3, 2016.
3
  As ordered in the 2016 Lifeline Modernization Order, all adopted rules have the 
following effective dates.
4
Rules that became effective on June 23, 2016:
5
? § 54.201 – State preemption for Lifeline Broadband Provider (LBP) designations
? § 54.423 – Lifeline Budget
Rules that became effective upon Federal Register announcement of OMB approval on October 3, 2016:
6
? § 54.202(a)(6), (d), (e) – LBP designation process
? § 54.205(c) – LBP relinquishment process
? § 54.400(l) – Broadband Internet access service definition
Rules that will become effective on December 2, 2016:
7
? § 54.101 – USF supported services
? § 54.400(f), (j), (m)-(o) – Definitions of “income,” “qualifying assistance program,” “voice 
telephony service,” “supported services,” and “National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier”
                                                     
1
See Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization et al., Third Report and Order, Further Report and Order, and 
Order on Reconsideration, 31 FCC Rcd 3962 (2016) (2016 Lifeline Modernization Order or Order).
2
Public Law No. 104-13, 109 Stat. 163 (May 22, 1995), codified at 44 U.S.C. §§ 3501 et seq. 
3
Federal Communications Commission, Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization, Telecommunications 
Carriers Eligible for Universal Service, Connect America Fund, Final Rule; Announcement of Effective Date, 81 FR 
67922 (Oct. 3, 2016).
4
2016 Lifeline Modernization Order, 31 FCC Rcd. at 4123-24, paras. 442-49.
5
Id. at 4123, para. 443; 81 Fed. Reg. 33025; 81 Fed. Reg. 45973.
6
2016 Lifeline Modernization Order, 31 FCC Rcd at 4123, para. 444; 81 Fed. Reg. 33025; 81 Fed. Reg. 45973.
7
2016 Lifeline Modernization Order, 31 FCC Rcd at 4123, para. 445; 81 Fed. Reg. 33025; 81 Fed. Reg. 45973.
2? § 54.401(a)(2)-(c), (f) – Lifeline defined
? § 54.403(a) – Lifeline support amount
? § 54.405(e)(1), (e)(3)-(e)(5) – Lifeline de-enrollment process
? § 54.407(a), (c)(2), (d) – Reimbursement for offering Lifeline
? § 54.408 – Minimum service standards
? § 54.409(a)(2) – Consumer qualification for Lifeline
? § 54.410(b)-(e), (g)-(h) – Subscriber eligibility determination
? § 54.411 – Lifeline benefit portability
? § 54.416(a)(3) – Annual certifications by ETCs
? § 54.420(b) – Low Income program audits
? § 54.422(b)(3) – Annual reporting for ETCs
Rules that will become effective on January 1, 2017:
8
? § 54.410(f) – Subscriber annual re-certification process
The initial time period for existing ETCs to elect the forbearance provided by the 2016 Lifeline 
Modernization Order with respect to offering Lifeline-supported BIAS will begin on October 3, 2016.
9
  
ETCs choosing to avail themselves of the forbearance must file notice by December 2, 2016.
10
  The notice 
should indicate whether the ETC is choosing blanket forbearance from offering Lifeline-supported BIAS 
in the designated service areas of their existing ETC designations or otherwise indicate the Census Blocks 
where the ETC is electing the forbearance.
11
  Pursuant to the terms of the forbearance provided by the 
2016 Lifeline Modernization Order, ETCs that do not provide such notices will be required to offer 
Lifeline-supported BIAS in the designated service areas pursuant to their existing ETC designations 
effective December 1, 2016.
12
For further information, please contact Christian Hoefly, Wireline Competition Bureau, 
Telecommunications Access Policy Division, at (202) 418-3607 or via e-mail at 
christian.hoefly@fcc.gov.
- FCC -
                                                     
8
2016 Lifeline Modernization Order, 31 FCC Rcd at 4124, para. 446; 81 Fed. Reg. 33025.
9
2016 Lifeline Modernization Order, 31 FCC Rcd at 4072, 4075, paras. 301, 313.  With respect to existing ETCs 
that are not Lifeline-only, this forbearance does not relieve the ETC of providing Lifeline BIAS in those areas where 
the ETC commercially offers qualifying BIAS pursuant to the ETC’s obligations under the high-cost rules.  Id. at 
4075, para. 312.  
10
Id.
11
Id.
12
Id.