Memo: FCC Announces Updated Lifeline Minimum Standards

September 24, 2021

FCC Announces Updated Lifeline Minimum Standards

Recent updates and clarifications regarding Tribal Lifeline have been added.

Summary

The FCC released a Public Notice on July 30, 2021 announcing the new Lifeline Minimum Standards that will take effective on December 1, 2021.

Fixed Broadband – 25/3 with 1229 GB of usage per month (speed remained unchanged, usage increased)
- Exception Reminder – if 25/3 is unavailable at the subscriber’s location, the Lifeline benefit can be applied toward the highest performing fixed broadband residential offering available but must be at least 4/1
Mobile Broadband – 18 GB/month with 3G or better mobile technology (technology remained unchanged, data capacity increased)
Mobile Voice – 1,000 minutes per month (remained unchanged)

If the subscriber is receiving a bundled service, the Lifeline benefit must be applied to one of the services in the bundle and the service it’s applied to must meet the minimum standards.

Customers who currently subscribe to Lifeline-supported services that will no longer meet the minimum standards or the service type (in the case of voice) on December 1, 2021 must be notified at least one month in advance. The notification should explain that their service will no longer qualify for Lifeline as of December 1, 2021 and they can either switch to a Lifeline-supported plan or de-enroll from the Lifeline program.

Download the full memo for additional detail.

VPS Memo – Tribal Lifeline Update

Additional Information

For more information on this issue or if you would like VPS guidance, please contact these members of the Vantage Point Solutions team:

Mara Vasile at (605) 995-1828

Courtney Spears at (830) 895-7221

Tammie Herrlein at (605) 990-1861