presentation to the Minnesota Telecom Alliance Oct 2013

1. LIFELINE
RE-CERTIFICATION
Could They Muddy the Waters Any More?

2. What we will cover today:
• History of MN DHS Electronic Matching Project
• How Does it Work?
• FCC’s February 2012 Lifeline Order
• What ETCs Can and Cannot Do to Re-Certify
Lifeline Subscribers
• National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD)

3. History of MN DHS
Electronic Matching Project
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Started in 2010 with 5 companies
Expanded to 13 companies in 2011
Opened to all MTA members in 2012
Opened to all ETC’s in 2013

4. How Does it Work?
• This is extremely voluntary!
• ETC submits DSA (available from MTA) to
DHS, establishing relationship
• ETC is notified by DHS directly when to
place file on DHS secure server
• DHS compares ETC data with consumer
eligible for public assistance programs
(SNAP, Medicaid, TANF)

5. How Does it Work?
• Consumers that are matched are given a Y
indicator in the Y/N column of the file.
• Specific DHS Program eligibility is not
included.
• Commerce places file on secured server of
those eligible for LIHEAP
• DHS compares data and adds LIHEAP to
the Y column
• ETCs retrieve file from secure server

6. How Does it Work?
• ETCs must still send letters to those who
do not match DHS or LIHEAP programs
• If there is no response within 30 days, the
ETC has 5 days to remove from the
program

7. What does the file need to
contain?
• Company Code (OCN)
• Company Name
• File date
• Customer’s Last Name
• Area Code
• Phone number
• Last 4 digits of SSN

8. FCC’s Lifeline Order
• Establishes uniform re-certification procedures for all ETC’s
• Beginning in 2013, ETC’s may elect to use USAC to recertify Lifeline subscribers.
• Requires Lifeline subscribers who do not respond to recertification requests within 30 days to be de-enrolled from
Lifeline within 5 business days.
• ETCs are required to submit their verification results to
USAC, FCC, and State Commissions by January 31st
each year via FCC Form 555.

9. What ETCs Can and Cannot Do to
Re-Certify Lifeline Subscribers
• Can Have USAC Re-Certify Lifeline
Subscribers.
• Can Participate with DHS Matching project,
send letters to those who do not match.
• Can Send Re-Certification letters to Lifeline
Subscribers yourself.
• Cannot Leave Subscribers on Lifeline who
have not responded to letters (5 days).
• Cannot Ignore this issue and hope it
goes away!

10. NLAD
• ETCs must feed info on each of their LL Subscribers
into NLAD beginning 12/2013 (with completion by
1st Qtr of 2014).
• FCC will give ETCs 60 days notice for uploading
into database.
• ETCs will be able to input their Lifeline Subscriber
data through a web portal or by submitting batch
processing files.

11. NLAD Required Data
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Customer Name
Address
Phone Number
Service Initiation Date
De-Enrollment Date
Means by which Customer qualified for support
Last 4 digits of SSN
DOB
Amount of support received each month
If the Customer receives Tribal Link Up Support

12. QUESTIONS?