FCC Keeps 3-Year Lifeline Provider Record Retention, Expands Duties
In adopting a Lifeline USF order Thursday, the FCC backed off a staff proposal to increase the general record-retention requirements of Lifeline USF providers from three to 10 years, agency officials said the next day. But the commission in a 3-2 vote (see 1506180029) adopted new rules requiring providers to retain customer eligibility documentation. In a VoIP numbering order also adopted Thursday, the FCC didn't adopt Level 3 proposals to firm up CLEC access charge rights when VoIP providers gain direct access to phone numbers, agency officials said. The FCC staff and Level 3 proposals drew objections from the regional Bells in the days before the vote.
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The draft Lifeline USF order circulated by Chairman Tom Wheeler May 28 included proposals to require "providers to retain documentation regarding the eligibility of their Lifeline customers to facilitate oversight and audits," and to extend "all record retention requirements from three to 10 years," said a news release. Carriers have been required to examine the documentation to confirm consumer eligibility for the Lifeline program, which provides phone subsidies for low-income individuals, but they haven't been required to retain that information, an FCC official said. AT&T, CenturyLink and Verizon voiced concerns about the customer information retention proposals, saying the changes would create privacy risks for consumers and compliance burdens for carriers (see 1506110023).
In the final Lifeline order adopted Thursday, the FCC adopted requirements that Lifeline providers retain documentation of subscriber program and/or income eligibility, as well as documentation needed to resolve National Lifeline Accountability Database disputes, agency officials said. In a victory for the Bells, it declined to increase the Lifeline provider general record-retention requirement from three to 10 years, they said.
Meanwhile, in the VoIP numbering proceeding, Level 3 proposed recently that the FCC clarify rules to ensure that competitive LECs such as Level 3 could collect local switching access charges when completing the calls of customers of VoIP providers that gain direct access to phone numbers. AT&T and Verizon had opposed the Level 3 proposals on both procedural grounds and substantive grounds (see 1506150043). The final order adopted Thursday didn't include the Level 3 proposed rule changes, FCC officials said.