User manual | Qinmmissinn Juhlic~ttfrie.e ~)"" State of Florida

FILED JUL 31, 2014
DOCUMENT NO. 04089-14
FPSC - COMMISSION CLERK
State of Florida
Juhlic~ttfrie.e Qinmmissinn
CAPITAL CIRCLE OFFICE CENTER • 2540 SHUMARD OAK BOULEVARD
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399-0850
-~-~-~-{}-lt-1\-~-I>-lJ-~-
DATE:
July 31, 2014
TO:
Office of Commission Clerk (Stauffer)
FROM:
Office of Telecommunications (Casey) ~)"" .
Office ofthe General Counsel (Teitzman) ~
RE:
Docket No. 120052-TP- Florida Link-Up and Lifeline Program Modernization.
-". ~
AGENDA: 08/12114- Regular Agenda -Interested Persons May Participate
COMMISSIONERS ASSIGNED:
All Commissioners
PREHEARING OFFICER:
Administrative
CRITICAL DATES:
None
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:
None
Case Background
On February 6, 2012, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Report
and Order (Order FCC 12-11) and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking addressing Lifeline
and Link Up Reform and Modernization. 1 The stated purposes of the FCC's Order 12-11 were
to strengthen protections against waste, fraud, and abuse; improve program administration and
accountability; improve enrollment and consumer disclosures; initiate modernization of the
program to include broadband; and constrain the growth of the program in order to reduce the
burden on all who contribute to the Federal Universal Service Fund. Many of the modifications
contained in Order FCC 12-11 affected Florida's Lifeline program.
1
In the Matter of Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization (WC Docket No. 11-42), Lifeline and Link Up
(WC Docket No. 03-109), Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service (CC Docket No. 96-45), Advancing
Broadband Availability Through Digital Literacy Training (WC Docket No. 12-23), Report and Order and Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Order No. FCC 12-11. Adopted: January 31,2012, Released: February 6, 2012.
Docket No. 120052-TP
Date: July 31,2014
To fulfill the requirements of Order FCC 12-11, this Commission, by Order No. PSC-120205-PAA-TP, issued April 17, 2012, ordered that non-Tribal Link Up be removed from the
Florida Lifeline program, the monthly amount of Lifeline credit provided to Florida Lifeline
customers be changed from $13.50 to $12.75, and the Florida Lifeline Simplified Certification
process be eliminated as of June I, 2012. This docket was kept open to address any additional
changes that needed to be made to Florida's Lifeline program due to the FCC Lifeline Reform
and Modernization. The Commission has authority under Section 364.10, Florida Statutes, to
administer the Florida Lifeline and Link Up program.
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Docket No. 120052-TP
Date: July 31,2014
Issue 1
Discussion of Issues
Issue 1: Should this docket be closed?
Recommendation: Yes. Staff recommends this docket should be closed. (Casey, Teitzman)
Staff Analysis: This docket was opened to address modifications that needed to be made to the
Florida Lifeline program as a result of the issuance of the FCC Lifeline Reform Order. The only
outstanding issue that needed to be resolved once the Commission issued Order No. PSC-120205-PAA-TP was to address a permanent waiver of 47 C.F.R. §54.407(d), 47 C.F.R.
§54.410(b)(2)(ii), 47 C.F.R. §54.410(c)(2)(ii), and 47 C.F.R. §54.410(e). These FCC rules stated
that eligible telecommunications carriers must not seek reimbursement from the Federal
universal service fund unless the eligible telecommunications carrier has received from the state
Lifeline administrator or other state agency, a copy of the Lifeline subscriber's certification
form. 2 The Order also required state Lifeline administrators or other state agencies that are
responsible for the initial determination of a subscriber's eligibility for Lifeline to provide each
eligible telecommunications carrier with a hard-copy of each of the Lifeline certification forms
beginning June 1, 2012.
The Florida Lifeline Electronic Coordinated Enrollment process does not have the
capability of printing out a hard-copy Lifeline application as required by the new FCC Rules.
However, the Florida Lifeline Electronic Coordinated Enrollment process allows eligible
telecommunications carriers to adhere to the requirements of the Lifeline Reform Order without
the need to require or maintain hard-copy Lifeline certification applications. Therefore, on
October 25, 2013, the Commission filed a petition with the FCC for permanent waiver of the
hard-copy Lifeline application obligation required by Rules 47 C.F.R. §54.407(d), 47 C.F.R.
§54.410(b)(2)(ii), 47 C.F.R. §54.410(c)(2)(ii), and 47 C.F.R. §54.410(e).
On June 6, 2014, the FCC released Order DA 14-785, granting Florida a permanent
waiver of the FCC requirements to provide hard-copy Lifeline applications to eligible
telecommunications carriers. In the Order, the FCC stated a permanent waiver is appropriate
because Florida's screening system fulfills the underlying purpose of the rules to limit Lifeline
benefits to eligible consumers.
Staff believes there are no further issues to be addressed regarding the FCC Lifeline
Reform Order. Therefore, staff recommends that this docket should be closed.
2
47 C.F.R. §54.407(d), 47 C.F.R. §54.4IO(b)(2)(ii), and 47 C.F.R. §54.410(c)(2)(ii).
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