FCC Seeks Comment on ETCs' Petition to Amend Lifeline Rules

The FCC seeks comment on a petition proposing various amendments to its Lifeline rules. The Petitioners claim the changes will further reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in the program. Petitioners propose, among other things, that the FCC amend its rules to require a Lifeline ETC to:

1. View and retain copies of the subscribers' government-issued photo identification presented at enrollment,

2. Provide access to live customer service representatives, and

3. Allow subscribers to de-enroll at any time without providing any documentation or reason for de-enrollment.

The Petition was filed by the Lifeline Reform 2.0 Coalition. The Coalition proposes various changes to the FCC's Lifeline Rules to ensure all ETC's "are subject to the same evolved, next generation set of compliance obligations and will eliminate the ability of individuals to exploit gaps the presently exist among ETCs."