<!rongr£llll of tl1£ lltnitex. ~tat£ll
ma541nglon, mm 20515
April 23, 2012
The Honorable Julius Genachowski
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 lih Street, NW
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chairman Genachowski:
As Members of Congress who strongly support the Federal Communications
Commission's (FCC) efforts to reform and strengthen the Universal Service Fund's Lifeline
program, we write to express our view regarding the specific rulemaking actions approved on
January 31, 2012. Specifically, we are concerned with the relatively short timeframe that the
FCC has imposed for the implementation of "full certification", the requirement that consumers
produce documentation of their participation in Lifeline-qualifying programs. Therefore, we
request that the FCC allow service providers until January 2013 to implement the full
certification rule.
We have closely monitored the Lifeline rulemaking process since it was first announced
in November 2010, and are pleased that the FCC shares in our vision of a program that is
accessible to qualifying consumers as well as free of waste, fraud, and abuse. While we remain
concerned that the full certification requirement may have unintended consequences on Lifeline
enrollment and access, we understand the rationale behind this particular rule. Moving forward,
we simply ask that service providers be given additional time to prepare for the implementation
of full certification.
Currently, many states do not have eligibility databases in place to ensure that enrollees
qualify for, and are in true need of, Lifeline services. Iffull certification is implemented in these
states, we fear that current and prospective Lifeline subscribers may lose vital access to
telephone service. It is our understanding that this rule is scheduled to go into full effect on June
1st. Extending this deadline by seven months to January 2013 will allow carriers to work with
state governments and establish databases that can be used to determine eligibility for
Lifeline.
As you well know, Lifeline is of great importance to our most economically
disadvantaged constituents, who would otherwise be unable to afford basic telephone service.
Great strides have been made under your leadership to modernize the program and to make it
more accessible to those in need. We are confident that the FCC's reforms will go a long way to
make Lifeline stronger and more effective.
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
0521
Chairman Genaqhowski, thank you for your consideration of our request to extend the
implementation deadline for full certification until January 2013. We appreciate your continued
commitment to meeting the communications needs of low-income Americans, and stand ready to
assist you as the FCC implements f!lLJ~h-needed reforms to Lifeline. If you should have any
questions, please do not hesitate 'to contact us.
. .
Alcee . Hastings
Member of Congress
Sincerely,
SiI vestre Reyes
Member of Congress
IiJn.~ (JfJd.d.
Wm. Lacy ~-~ ,
Member of Congress
oIphus Towns
Member of Congress
Member of Congress
Charles B. Rang
Member of Congress
A~:z:L_~eutch
Member of Congress
~4~ar Lee oJ
Member of Congress
ROb@~Scott
Member of Congress
~~
Russ Carnahan
Member of Congress
- ~~Bennie G. Thompson
Member of Congress
<;::::Z~ &--
Joe Baca
Member of Congress
-~ Id.uO'!=Iseli ---
Member of Congress
uis V. Gutierrez
Memb of Congres~ ~ ___
Laura .chardson
Member of Congress
.;/b~
~~eks
Member of Congress
fvA,~
Keith Ellison
Member of Congress
J>./\.
Ben Ray Lujan
Member of Congress
ace F. Napolitan
ember of'Congress
.......~[l)io Sires
Member of Congress
~~
Member of Congress
~ ella-~t1 •• "Pe R:Pief1-u-is-i----
Member: of COl}gress
#~va
Brad Miller
Member of Congress
•
Ruben Hinojosa
Member of Congress
•
David Price
Member of Congress