"FCC OIS detected similar fraud in the system in a 2017 report, which resulted in the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), the Lifeline program administrator, beginning a "death check" as part of the enrollment process. However, the FCC allowed three states (California, Texas, and Oregon) to opt out of the death check process. The most recent OIG report specifies that the $5 million in fraud was all in the opt-out state"
"The Lifeline program, through participating service providers, offers discounted broadband and telephone service to low-income families at $34.25 a month and up to $100 in one-time start-up costs. The program started life after passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to promote universal telephone service access, but its focus has since shifted to broadband service. FCC OIS detected similar fraud in"
An OIG report found the Lifeline program paid roughly $5 million to 117,000 deceased subscribers from 2020 to 2025, and up to 16,774 of those were dead at enrollment, with instances of duplicative enrollments. Chairman Brendan Carr stated that federal Lifeline subsidies should go only to living, lawful beneficiaries. Commissioner Anna Gomez warned that the adopted NPRM could reduce access for low-income families. Lifeline provides discounted broadband and phone service at $34.25 per month and up to $100 startup. A 2017 OIG finding prompted a USAC "death check," though three states opted out and the recent fraud occurred in those opt-out areas.
Read at Telecompetitor
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]