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DA 18-1009
Released:  October 2, 2018

WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU ANNOUNCES FULL LAUNCH OF THE NATIONAL LIFELINE ELIGIBILITY VERIFIER IN SIX STATES
WC Docket No. 11-42
By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announces that effective November 2, 2018, the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier (National Verifier) will fully launch in the initial six participating states—Colorado, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.  The Commission established the National Verifier in the 2016 Lifeline Order to make eligibility determinations and perform other necessary functions to enroll subscribers into the Lifeline program. 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, 4006, para. 126 (2016) (2016 Lifeline Order).

Starting on November 2, 2018, Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETCs) in these six states will be required to use the National Verifier to make eligibility determinations for all consumers applying for Lifeline service and must cease using legacy eligibility processes for prospective Lifeline subscribers.  In addition, beginning on November 2, 2018, consumers can check their eligibility for Lifeline service directly by using the National Verifier consumer portal available at CheckLifeline.org.  The consumer portal is available in both English and Spanish language versions.  Finally, consumers and service providers will be able to mail Lifeline program forms and documentation to USAC for manual review. USAC will announce the date by which consumers and service providers will be able mail Lifeline program forms and documentation.  This date will occur no later than the November 2, 2018.
  Consumers and service providers can obtain the Lifeline program application form by going to CheckLifeline.org and clicking on “print a paper form.”  Forms sent by mail should be sent to:
USAC Lifeline Support Center 
P.O. Box 7081 
London, KY 40742 
During the soft launch period, which was initiated on June 18, 2018, reverification of existing Lifeline subscribers in the initial six states began.  Reverification will continue after November 2, 2018, to verify that subscribers in the National Verifier for these six states are eligible to receive Lifeline service.  In addition, annual recertification is now being conducted by the National Verifier for all Lifeline consumers in the initial six states. 
USAC will be contacting ETCs in the relevant states to provide more details regarding training opportunities.  National Verifier informational resource materials are also available on USAC’s website. See https://www.usac.org/li/tools/national-verifier/how-to-use.aspx

For further information, please contact either Allison Jones at (202) 418-1571, allison.jones@fcc.gov or Allison Baker at (202) 418-8128, allison.baker@fcc.gov, both of the Wireline Competition Bureau’s Telecommunications Access Policy Division.
– FCC –