Lifeline and Disabled Programs

PURPOSE: This proposed rule identifies enrollment, funding, and service requirements for the Lifeline and/or Disabled programs. (1) Missouri Universal Service Fund (USF) support for the Lifeline and Disabled programs is limited to companies that are current on Missouri USF assessment obligations, meet the requirements of section 392.248.4(2) of the Missouri Revised Statutes, and have a certificate of service authority to provide basic local telecommunications service or a registration to provide Interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (IVoIP) service from the commission. Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) designation pursuant to 47 CFR Part 54 Subpart C is a requirement for participation in the Lifeline program but not the Disabled program. Participation in the Disabled program by an ETC is optional. (2) The Lifeline Program is subject to the federal requirements identified in FCC rules. (3) The Disabled Program. (A) Eligibility criteria is satisfied by participation in any of the following programs— 1. Veteran Administration Disability Benefits; 2. State Blind Pension; 3. State Aid to Blind Persons; 4. State Supplemental Disability Assistance; or 5. Federal Social Security Disability. (B) If a consumer qualifies for the Disabled Program but is not listed as the subscriber then the company must track such instances and annually verify the disabled customer remains within the household. (4) A household or subscriber may not simultaneously participate in the Disabled Program and the Lifeline Program. (5) The enrollment form for the Lifeline Program should comply with federal requirements. The enrollment form for the Disabled Program may be similar to the sample form posted on the commission’s website. (6) All Missouri USF support received by a company for the Lifeline or Disabled Programs shall flow through to participating customers in the form of discounted essential local telecommunications service. (7) The Missouri USF support amount for the Lifeline and Disabled Programs is identified on the Missouri USF website. Missouri USF Lifeline support, when combined with federal USF Lifeline support, shall not exceed the sum of an ETC’s rate for essential local telecommunications service and subscriber line charge. (8) In order to receive a Missouri USF disbursement a company must complete an Application for Support Eligibility form within three (3) months of provisioning the service pertaining to the disbursement request. Failure to submit this form within this time period will limit support to the amount requested or to a designated amount approved by the board and posted on the Missouri USF website (whichever is less). AUTHORITY: sections 392.200.2, 392.248, and 392.470.1, RSMo 2016.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 240-31.014. Original rule filed April 12, 2018, effective Dec. 30, 2018. Moved to 20 CSR 4240-31.014, effective Aug. 28, 2019. *Original authority: 392.200, RSMo 1939, amended 1987, 1988, 1996, 2003, 2005, 2008; 392.248, RSMo 1996; and 392.470.1, RSMo 1987.