1. Lifeline Program: April 2019
An Overview of the Lifeline Benefit for Low Income Native and Tribal Consumers
April 2019

2. Agenda USAC & Lifeline: Who We Are Lifeline Program Details
National Verifier Overview
Working in Partnership
Agenda
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3. USAC & Lifeline: Who We Are
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4. Who is USAC? The Universal Service Administrative Company
The Universal Service Fund exists to ensure that all people in the United States have access to quality, affordable connectivity services.
USAC is an independent, not-for-profit organization designated by the FCC as the permanent administrator of the Universal Service Fund and its four programs.
© 2019 Universal Service Administrative Co. l Lifeline Program

5. The Mission of Universal Service
USAC works to ensure that all people in the United States have access to quality, affordable connectivity services through these four programs:
Connect America
Lifeline Program
Rural Health Care Program
Schools and Libraries Program (E-Rate)
© 2019 Universal Service Administrative Co. l Lifeline Program

6. Lifeline Overview
A monthly discount on phone, broadband, or bundled service
Nine million U.S. households participate in Lifeline today
Of those, 274,000 are Tribal households
All eligible consumers can receive a discount of $9.25 per month
Consumers who live on qualifying Tribal lands can receive up to $34.25 per month
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7. Lifeline Program Details
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8. Lifeline Benefit
The Lifeline discount is provided directly to the provider. The provider offers a package for the consumer, taking into account the discount for any of the following services:
Mobile/Fixed Voice-Only
Broadband
Bundled
Voice or Broadband
At least one has to meet minimum standards.
Service must meet minimum service standards
Benefit cannot be used to pay for equipment
© 2019 Universal Service Administrative Co. l Lifeline Program

9. Applicants qualify if they participate in one of the following:
Government program:
Medicaid
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit
Income:
At or below 135 percent Federal Poverty Guidelines
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10. Applicants living on Tribal lands can also qualify if they participate in one of the following:
Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance (BIA-GA)
Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance of Needy Families (TTANF)
Tribal Head Start (must meet qualifying income standard)
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
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11. Program Rules
Lifeline is available only to consumers who can document their eligibility
Only one Lifeline benefit is permitted per independent economic household
Consumers are required to recertify their eligibility every year 11
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12. Eligible Tribal Lands for the Lifeline Program
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13. Lifeline Numbers in New Mexico
93,000 subscribers
Of those subscribers 32,260 live on tribal lands
Over 3,800 consumers received Link Up support on tribal lands
Year
NM Support
Claimed Annually
2018
$19.4M
2017
$20.3M
2016
$20.5M
Carrier Name
2018 Disbursements Total
SMITH BAGLEY INC.
$10M +
VIRGIN MOBILE USA LP
$1M +
TRACFONE WIRELESS INC.
NTUA WIRELESS LLC
$100K +
COMMNET FOUR CORNERS LLC
SACRED WIND COMMUNICATIONS INC.
CENTURYLINK QWEST CORPORATION
MESCALERO APACHE TELECOM INC.
WINDSTREAM COMMUNICATIONS LLC
< $100K
NAVAJO COMM CO
WESTERN NEW MEXICO TELEPHONE COMPANY INC.
ENMR TELEPHONE COOPERATIVE INC
LA JICARITA RURAL TELEPHONE COOPERATIVE INC.
TULAROSA BASIN TELEPHONE COMPANY INC.
Data on disbursement funding can be found here
FCC filings can be found here
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14. National Verifier Overview14

15. National Verifier The National Verifier:
Determines consumer eligibility
Conducts annual recertification
USAC partners with states, federal and tribal agencies to utilize existing data sources that contain Lifeline eligibility information (e.g. participation in SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing, Tribal TANF etc.).
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16. National Verifier Launches
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17. Service Provider Portal
Application Process
Consumers in National Verifier states have three options they can choose from when applying for the Lifeline benefit:
Service Provider Portal
A service provider can assist a consumer in- person through the National Verifier service provider portal at CheckLifeline.org/lifeline ( id=nv_sp_bpo_login)
Mail - in
Consumers can apply on their own by mailing in their documentation and application form to the Lifeline Support Center, and they will contact the consumers by or mail to let them know if they qualify for Lifeline.
Consumer Portal
Consumers can also apply on their own through consumer portal, CheckLifeline.org/lifeline.
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18. Application Process Flow
Applications Received
Passed
Automatic Review
Automatic Review
Applicant Receives Qualification Notification
Manual Review
(Documentation Submitted)
Passed
Manual Reviewed
Passed Applications
Incomplete Application
(No Document Received)
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19. “Companies Near Me” Tool
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20. “Companies Near Me” Tool
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21. National Verifier - Addressing
If a consumer need to provide a descriptive address, they would include it in the initial address field.
RED HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN
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22. National Verifier - Addressing
After creating the application, the consumer will have an opportunity to update their address before submission.
In the National Verifier web portal, a consumer can drop a pin on the map or type in their latitude and longitude coordinates.
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23. National Verifier – Addressing
Consumers can mail in images to USAC to show their address, including:
A hand drawn document that identifies the consumer’s home address by identifying the nearest cross roads (or mile markers), identifiable landmarks, and distance between the locations, or
A printed satellite image with a mapping tool icon (pin) identifying the consumer’s residence and the latitude and longitude coordinates displayed from a mapping tool.
Consumers can also mail in copies of documentation such as an unexpired driver's license or utility bill. For a full list, visit the Acceptable Documentation for the National Verifier page or review the AMS Resolutions PDF.
© 2019 Universal Service Administrative Co. l Lifeline Program

24. Recertification
Recertification enable a consumer to recertify and retain their Lifeline benefit each year.
What does it do?
The NV will automatically check consumers in NV states against state and federal databases for recertification.
Consumers that cannot be automatically recertified are asked to self-certify.
Consumers
must submit a National Verifier Recertification Form via mail, the NV Portal, or by phone.
© 2019 Universal Service Administrative Co. l Lifeline Program

25. Reverification
Reverification is a one-time process to confirm all existing Lifeline consumers meet the National Verifier's eligibility standards set by the FCC. This process will reset a consumer’s anniversary date.
How does it work?
A consumers’ eligibility is checked through eligibility databases or by review of a consumer’s provided documentation.
Reverification for each launch is performed in four groups based on the consumers’ enrollment date.
USAC has recently added a reverification window for the June 2018 launch and adjusted the reverification process for December 2018 launch and onward.
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26. The National Verifier Looking Ahead
USAC is working closely with remaining states, territories, federal, and Tribal partners to bring more states and territories into the National Verifier in 2019.
USAC is continuing discussions with relevant federal partners to automate the verification process for consumers and improve the eligibility decision response time.
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27. Working in Partnership
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28. Partnering with Tribal Communities
Identify opportunities to train tribal agency caseworkers and other social service personnel to help tribal communities access the Lifeline benefit.
Create a simplified application experience so consumers can sign up for federal benefit programs and Lifeline support simultaneously.
We welcome your ideas on how to coordinate the application process in order to improve the consumer’s enrollment experience.
© 2019 Universal Service Administrative Co. l Lifeline Program

29. Lifeline and National Verifier Resources
Need help? Contact us!
General: or call the Lifeline Support Center at (800)
Trainings and Reference Materials
Please us at to be added to the National Verifier training and outreach launch specific lists for states that you do business in.
Sign up for general Lifeline Program updates and upcoming events:
Visit and click “Subscribe” in the upper right hand corner
Visit USAC’s Lifeline National Verifier web pages.
Visit USAC’s Lifeline Learn page for monthly webinar and National Verifier training recordings and slide decks.
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30. Thank You!
Forrest Cox Leah Sorini
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31. © 2018 Universal Service Administrative Co. l Lifeline Program