| (1) Lifeline discount amounts. All Lifeline providers
shall provide the following Lifeline discounts to all eligible Lifeline
customers so long as the total of all the Lifeline discounts combined
does not result in a rate of less than zero for a customer's basic
local service. Should the total of all Lifeline discounts result in
a rate of less than zero on a customer's bill, the Lifeline provider
shall only provide a Lifeline discount amount up to the price a customer
is charged for basic local service.
(A) Federally approved reduction--Up to the federal
monthly basic Lifeline support amount outlined in 47 C.F.R. 54.403.
(B) Additional federal Lifeline reduction for an eligible
customer who is a resident of Tribal lands, as defined in 47 C.F.R. §54.400,
up to the federal monthly Lifeline amount outlined in 47 C.F.R. §54.403.
(C) State reduction--A state-approved reduction of
up to a maximum of $3.50 in the monthly amount of intrastate charges.
(D) Texas High Cost Universal Service Plan (THCUSP)
Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC) Area Discount--
(i) All Lifeline providers operating in the service
areas of Southwestern Bell Telephone Company d/b/a AT&T Texas,
GTE Southwest Incorporated d/b/a Verizon Southwest, Central Telephone
Company d/b/a CenturyLink, United Telephone Company d/b/a CenturyLink,
and Windstream Communications Southwest, or their successors, (collectively,
THCUSP ILECs) shall provide a reduction (THCUSP ILEC Area Discount)
up to 25% of any actual increase by a THCUSP ILEC to its residential
basic network service rate that occurs in a THCUSP ILEC's Public Utility
Regulatory Act (PURA) Chapter 58 regulated exchanges.
(ii) A THCUSP ILEC Area Discount shall be calculated
by a THCUSP ILEC on the basis of the weighted average of the Rate
Increase(s). The calculation of the weighted average of the Rate Increase(s)
shall use a denominator that is the sum of all PURA Chapter 58 regulated
residential lines with Rate Increases, and shall use a numerator that
is the sum of each product that results from multiplying the number
of PURA Chapter 58 regulated residential lines affected by each discrete
Rate Increase times the corresponding Rate Increase. The weighted
average of the Rate Increase(s) calculation shall be included in the
tariff filing made to implement the THCUSP ILEC Area Discount.
(iii) A THCUSP ILEC Area Discount shall be provided
to all qualifying Lifeline customers who are located in the service
area of the THCUSP ILEC that has implemented the corresponding Rate
Increase.
(iv) A THCUSP ILEC shall file with the commission tariffs
implementing a THCUSP ILEC Area Discount at the time it files for
a rate increase. The effective date of a THCUSP ILEC Area Discount
shall have the same effective date as the corresponding rate increase.
(v) A competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) Lifeline
provider operating in the service area of a THCUSP ILEC shall file
with the commission tariffs or price lists implementing the appropriate
THCUSP ILEC Area Discount.
(E) Small and Rural Incumbent Local Exchange Company
Universal Service Plan (SRILEC USP) Area Discount--
(i) Beginning January 1, 2014, all Lifeline providers
operating in the service areas of those incumbent local exchange carriers
that participate in the SRILEC USP shall provide an increase in the
Lifeline service discount up to 25% of any actual increase by a SRILEC
USP ILEC to its residential basic network service rate that occurs
in a SRILEC USP ILEC's regulated exchanges and is consistent with §26.404
of this title (relating to Small and Rural Incumbent Local Exchange
Company (ILEC) Universal Service Plan).
(ii) A SRILEC shall file with the commission tariffs
implementing a SRILEC USP Area Discount at the time it files for a
rate increase. The effective date of a SRILEC USP Area Discount shall
have the same effective date as the corresponding rate increase
(iii) A CLEC Lifeline provider operating in the service
area of a SRILEC shall file with the commission tariffs or price lists
implementing the appropriate SRILEC USP Area Discount.
(2) Lifeline support amounts. The following Lifeline
providers shall receive support amounts for the Lifeline discounts
outlined in paragraph (1) of this subsection. Note: A Lifeline provider
shall not receive a support amount greater than the amount it provided
to each qualifying Lifeline customer.
(A) ETC--Pursuant to 47 C.F.R. §54.403, the federal
Lifeline support an ETC shall receive is:
(i) Federally approved support amount pursuant to 47
C.F.R. §54.403.
(ii) Additional federal Lifeline reduction for an eligible
resident of Tribal lands, as defined in 47 C.F.R. §54.400--up
to the federal monthly Lifeline amount outlined in 47 C.F.R. §54.403.
(B) ETP--
(i) State support of up to a maximum of $3.50.
(ii) THCUSP ILEC Area support--Amount calculated pursuant
to paragraph (1)(D) of this subsection.
(iii) SRILEC USP support--Amount calculated pursuant
to paragraph (1)(E) of this subsection.
(iv) If an ETP has been designated as an ETC, then
the certificated provider shall also receive support amounts prescribed
by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.
(C) Resale ETP--A resale ETP shall receive Lifeline
Service support up to or equal to the following state and federal
amounts as long as the Lifeline Service was not purchased as a wholesale
offering from the ILEC. Any Lifeline Service purchased as a wholesale
offering from the ILEC includes the Lifeline Discount and is therefore
not eligible to receive an additional discount. The TUSF, regardless
of whether the Lifeline Service Discount is state or federally mandated,
will provide the Lifeline Service support so long as the total of
all the Lifeline discounts combined does not result in a rate of less
than zero for a customer's basic local service. Should the total of
all Lifeline discounts result in a rate of less than zero on a customer's
bill, the Lifeline provider shall only provide a Lifeline discount
amount up to the price a customer is charged for basic local service.
(i) Federally approved support amount pursuant to 47
C.F.R. §54.403.
(ii) Additional federal Lifeline reduction for an eligible
resident of Tribal lands, as defined in 47 C.F.R. §54.400--up
to the federal monthly Lifeline amount outlined in 47 C.F.R. §54.403;
(iii) State support of up to a maximum of $3.50.
(iv) THCUSP Area support--Amount calculated pursuant
to paragraph (1)(D) of this subsection.
(v) SRILEC USP support--Amount calculated pursuant
to paragraph (1)(E) of this subsection.
(D) Non-ETP/ETC--A Non-ETP/ETC is not eligible to receive
any state or federal Lifeline support.
(g) Obligations of the customer and the Lifeline provider.
(1) Obligations of the customer.
(A) Customers who meet the low-income requirement for
qualification but do not receive benefits under the programs listed
in subsection (d) of this section may provide the LIDA with self-enrollment
for Lifeline benefits.
(B) Customers receiving benefits under the programs
listed in subsection (d) of this section and who have telephone service
will be subject to the Lifeline automatic enrollment procedures as
provided by the LIDA unless they provide the LIDA with a request to
be excluded from Lifeline Service.
(C) Customers receiving benefits under the programs
listed in subsection (d) of this section and who do not have telephone
service must initiate a request for service from a participating telecommunications
carrier providing local service in their area.
(D) The LIDA shall provide a self-enrollment form by
direct mail at the customer's request.
(E) Opportunity for contest.
(i) A customer who believes that their self-enrollment
application has been erroneously denied may request in writing that
LIDA review the application, and the customer may submit additional
information as proof of eligibility.
(ii) A customer who is dissatisfied with LIDA's action
following a request for review under clause (i) of this subparagraph
may request in writing that an informal hearing be conducted by the
commission staff.
(iii) A customer dissatisfied with the determination
after an informal hearing under clause (ii) of this subparagraph may
file a formal complaint pursuant to §22.242(e) of this title
(relating to Complaints).
(2) Obligations of Lifeline providers.
(A) A Lifeline provider shall only provide Lifeline
Service to all eligible customers identified by the LIDA within its
service area in accordance with this section.
Cont'd... |
