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 NEWS  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974).  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322 
 FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE:  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACT:  September  6,  2005  Mark  Wigfield,  202-  418-  0253 
 Email:  mark.  wigfield@  fcc.  gov 


 FCC  Conditionally  Grants  TracFone’s  Petition  for  Forbearance 
 Commission  Allows  Wireless  Reseller  to  File  for  ETC  Designation  for  Lifeline  Support 
 Washington,  D.  C.  –  The  Federal  Communications  Commission  (Commission)  today  conditionally  granted  a  petition  filed  by  wireless  reseller  TracFone  Wireless  Inc.  (Tracfone) 


 asking  the  Commission  to  forbear  from  enforcing  a  rule  that  effectively  bars  companies  that  do  not  own  their  own  facilities  from  participating  in  the  Commission’s  “Lifeline”  low-  income 
 support  program.  Specifically,  the  grant  of  forbearance  from  application  of  section  214(  e)  and  related  rules  is  conditional  on  TracFone  attaining  ETC  designation,  providing  to  Lifeline 
 customers  services  that  include  basic  and  enhanced  911  capabilities  regardless  of  whether  the  handset  is  activated,  providing  Lifeline  customers  E911  compliant  handsets  only,  obtaining 
 certification  from  Public  Safety  Answering  Points  of  its  compliance  with  basic  and  enhanced  911  obligations  in  the  areas  in  which  it  operates,  and  adopting  sufficient  safeguards  to  ensure  the 
 integrity  of  the  Lifeline  program. 
 The  Order  will  allow  the  Commission  to  consider  TracFone’s  separate  petitions  to  be  designated  an  Eligible  Telecommunications  Carrier,  or  ETC,  in  eight  states  so  that  it  can 


 participate  in  the  Universal  Service  Fund’s  Lifeline  program.  The  Lifeline  program  ensures  that  low-  income  consumers  have  access  to  quality  telecommunications  services  at  just,  reasonable, 
 and  affordable  rates. 
 Granting  forbearance  furthers  the  Commission’s  goal  of  boosting  participation  in  the  Lifeline  program.  Currently,  only  about  one-  third  of  households  eligible  for  low-  income 


 assistance  actually  subscribe  to  the  program. 
 Action  by  the  Commission,  September  6,  2005,  by  Report  and  Order  (FCC  05-  165). 
 CC  Docket  No.  96-  45 


 Wireline  Competition  Bureau  Staff  Contact:  Carol  Pomponio,  carol.  pomponio@  fcc.  gov,  202-  418-  1898. 


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