Federal Communications Commission DA 18-102
Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
In the Matter of
Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization
Telecommunications Carriers Eligible for Universal 
Service Support 
Connect America Fund
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WC Docket No. 11-42
WC Docket No. 09-197
WC Docket No. 10-90
ORDER
Adopted:  February 2, 2018 Released:  February 2, 2018
By the Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau:
I. INTRODUCTION
1. In this Order, we grant the petition of Telrite Corporation (Telrite)
1
 to extend the Bureau’s 
temporary waiver of the Lifeline Program’s recertification rules
2
 in Puerto Rico and the United States 
Virgin Islands (USVI) through April 30, 2018.  
2. Recovery efforts continue in Puerto Rico and the USVI in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and 
Maria (“Hurricanes”), which struck the United States and its territories in September 2017.
3
  Together, the 
Hurricanes caused widespread and catastrophic damage, destroyed and damaged countless homes, 
schools, libraries, and health care facilities, displaced residents, and disrupted communications.  Because 
of these compelling and unique circumstances, we find good cause to waive for 30 days sections 
54.405(e)(4) and 54.410(f) of the Commission’s rules for all eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) 
serving Lifeline subscribers residing in Puerto Rico or the USVI whose continued eligibility cannot be 
verified using an eligibility database and whose anniversary dates fall between April 1, 2018, and April 
30, 2018.
II. DISCUSSION
3. Generally, the Commission’s rules may be waived for good cause shown.
4
  The Commission 
may exercise its discretion to waive a rule where the particular facts make strict compliance inconsistent 
with the public interest.
5
  In addition, the Commission may take into account considerations of hardship, 
equity, or more effective implementation of overall policy on an overall basis.
6
 
1
 See Telrite Corporation Emergency Petition for Extension of Waiver, WC Docket No. 11-42 et al. (filed Jan. 30, 
2018) (Telrite Petition).
2
 47 CFR §§ 54.405(e)(4); 54.410(f).
3
 See generally Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), https://www.fema.gov/ (last visited Jan. 31, 
2018); CNN, 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season Facts, http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/15/us/2017-atlantic-hurricane-
season-fast-facts/index.html (last visited Jan. 31, 2018). 
4
 47 CFR § 1.3.  
5
 Northeast Cellular Telephone Co. v. FCC, 897 F.2d 1164, 1166 (D.C. Cir. 1990).  
Federal Communications Commission DA 18-102
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4. Lifeline providers are required to recertify their customers’ continued Lifeline eligibility 
every 12 months.
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  Providers may elect to have USAC conduct the recertification process.
8
  In response to 
the widespread damage caused by the Hurricanes, the Commission released orders on September 7, 2017,  
October 7, 2017, and October 31, 2017, temporarily suspending and waiving a number of Lifeline rules, 
including the recertification rule, in Puerto Rico and the USVI.
9
  In its waiver request, Telrite argues that 
a waiver is warranted because the 60-day recertification period for subscribers with subscription 
anniversary dates on or after on April 1, 2018 would begin on February 1, 2018, and that “there is no 
indication that the mail systems or power grids in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands will be 
sufficiently functional [by February 1, 2018] such that it would be reasonable to expect recertification 
notices to reach affected subscribers.”
10
5. The damage caused by the Hurricanes has made it difficult for Lifeline subscribers in Puerto 
Rico and the USVI to receive, or respond to, messages from their Lifeline provider or USAC to complete 
the recertification process.  Accordingly, in response to Telrite’s petition, we temporarily waive the 
recertification rules in USVI and in Puerto Rico for those subscribers who cannot be recertified by the 
now-operational Programa de Asistencia Nutricional (PAN) database and whose anniversary dates fall 
from April 1, 2018 through April 30, 2018.
11
  This will also extend the recertification deadline for 
relevant subscribers whose Lifeline provider has elected USAC to conduct recertification.  Because 
Telrite notes in its petition that the PAN eligibility database is now accessible again,
12
 we expect that 
providers will access that database to recertify those subscribers whose anniversary dates fall within the 
waiver period and whose continued eligibility can be verified through that database.
13
  
6. Subscribers who can be recertified through the database are not required to be recertified 
again until their next anniversary date.  ETCs must begin the 60-day notice period by March 1, 2018 for 
any subscribers whose anniversary dates fall from April 1, 2018 through April 30, 2018 and who cannot 
be recertified through the PAN database, as noted in the table below.
14
  Any subscriber whose anniversary 
date falls within the waiver period but has already recertified their eligibility or is recertified through an 
eligibility database is not required to undergo an additional recertification at the end of the waiver period, 
and any subscriber who had previously de-enrolled from the program must re-enroll pursuant to the 
Commission’s rules.  
Subscriber Anniversary Date Recertification Process Begins
6
 Northeast Cellular, 897 F.2d at 1166.
7
 47 CFR § 54.410(f).
8
 See USAC-Elected Recertification, http://www.usac.org/li/tools/usac-elected-recertification.aspx (last visited Jan. 
31, 2018). 
9
 Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization, Order, 32 FCC Rcd 6846 (WCB 2017); School and Libraries 
Universal Support Mechanism et al., Order, 32 FCC Rcd 7456, 7460-61, paras. 10-13 (WCB 2017); Lifeline and 
Link Up Reform and Modernization, Order, 32 FCC Rcd 9240 (WCB 2017).
10
 Telrite Petition at 7.
11
 See id. at 5-6, 9.
12
 Id. at 5.
13
 See 47 CFR § 54.410(f)(2)(i).
14
 See 47 CFR §§ 54.405(e)(4), 54.410(f)(2)(iii), 54.410(f)(3)(iii).
Federal Communications Commission DA 18-102
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September 7, 2017 – March 31, 2018 April 1, 2018
April 1, 2018 – April 30, 2018 March 1, 2018
May 1, 2018 or later March 1, 2018 or at least 60 days prior to 
anniversary date, whichever is later
7. Based on the record before us, we find that good cause exists to temporarily waive section 
54.405(e)(4) and 54.410(f) of the Commission’s rules through April 30, 2018 for ETCs serving Lifeline 
subscribers residing in Puerto Rico and the USVI.
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  Given the extraordinary damage wreaked by the 
Hurricanes and ongoing recovery efforts, strict compliance with these rules would be impracticable and 
would risk de-enrollment of Lifeline subscribers during the recovery efforts to rebuild in the aftermath of 
the Hurricanes.  Waiver of these rules is in the public interest because it will allow ETCs serving Lifeline 
subscribers in Puerto Rico and the USVI additional time to complete the recertification process for those 
subscribers whose service anniversary dates fall within this waiver period.  Disruptions to electrical 
service and infrastructure resulting from the Hurricanes will make it difficult, if not impossible, for 
Lifeline subscribers to receive and respond to service provider recertification requests and reminders.
16
  
8. Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse.  We are committed to guarding against waste, fraud, 
and abuse in the Universal Service Fund (USF) programs.  Although we grant the limited waivers 
described herein, service providers remain otherwise subject to audits and investigations to determine 
compliance with USF Program rules and requirements.  We will require USAC to recover funds that we 
discover were not used properly through its normal processes.  We emphasize that we retain the discretion 
to evaluate the uses of monies disbursed through the USF Programs and to determine on a case-by-case 
basis that waste, fraud, or abuse of program funds occurred and that recovery is warranted.  Additionally, 
in the event we discover any improper activity resulting from our action today, we will subject the 
offending party to all available penalties at our disposal, and will direct USAC to recover funds, assess 
retroactive fees and/or interest, or both.  We remain committed to ensuring the integrity of the Programs 
and will continue to aggressively pursue instances of waste, fraud, or abuse under our own procedures and 
in cooperation with law enforcement agencies.
III. ORDERING CLAUSES
9. ACCORDINGLY, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to the authority contained in sections 1-4 and 
254 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 USC §§ 151-154 and 254, and sections 0.91, 
0.291, and 1.3 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 0.91, 0.291, and 1.3, that sections 47 CFR 
54.405(e)(4) and 54.410(f) of the Commission’s rules are waived to the limited extent provided herein.  
10. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that pursuant to the authority contained in sections 1-4 and 254 
of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 USC §§ 151-154 and 254, and sections 0.91, 0.291, 
and 1.3 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 0.91, 0.291, and 1.3, that the request for waiver filed by 
Telrite Corporation, Inc. IS GRANTED to the extent provided herein.
11. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that pursuant to section 1.102(b)(1) of the Commission’s rules, 
47 CFR § 1.102(b)(1), this Order SHALL BE EFFECTIVE upon release.  
15
 See 47 CFR §§ 54.405(e)(4), 54.410(f).
16
 See Telrite Petition at 4-5.
Federal Communications Commission DA 18-102
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Kris Anne Monteith
Chief
Wireline Competition Bureau