C.F.R. » Title 47 » CHAPTER I—FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION › SUBCHAPTER B—COMMON CARRIER SERVICES › PART 54—UNIVERSAL SERVICE › Subpart E—Universal Service Support for Low-Income Consumers

47 C.F.R. § 54.403

Lifeline support amount

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(a) The federal Lifeline support amount for all eligible telecommunications carriers shall equal:

(1) Basic support amount. Federal Lifeline support in the amount of $9.25 per month will be made available to an eligible telecommunications carrier providing Lifeline service to a qualifying low-income consumer, except as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, if that carrier certifies to the Administrator that it will pass through the full amount of support to the qualifying low-income consumer and that it has received any non-federal regulatory approvals necessary to implement the rate reduction.

(2) For a Lifeline provider offering either standalone voice service, subject to the minimum service standards set forth in § 54.408, or voice service with broadband below the minimum standards set forth in § 54.408, the support levels will be as follows:

(i) Until December 1, 2019, the support amount will be $9.25 per month.

(ii) From December 1, 2019 until November 30, 2020, the support amount will be $7.25 per month.

(iii) From December 1, 2020 until November 30, 2021, the support amount will be $5.25 per month.

(iv) On December 1, 2021, standalone voice service, or voice service not bundled with broadband which meets the minimum standards set forth in § 54.408, will not be eligible for Lifeline support unless the Commission has previously determined otherwise.

(v) Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(2)(iv) of this section, on December 1, 2021, the support amount for standalone voice service, or voice service not bundled with broadband which meets the minimum standards set forth in § 54.408, provided by a provider that is the only Lifeline provider in a Census block will be the support amount specified in paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this section.

(3) Tribal lands support amount. Additional Federal Lifeline support of up to $25 per month will be made available to an eligible telecommunications carrier providing Lifeline service to an eligible resident of Tribal lands, as defined in § 54.400(e), to the extent that the eligible telecommunications carrier certifies to the Administrator that it will pass through the full Tribal lands support amount to the qualifying eligible resident of Tribal lands and that it has received any non-Federal regulatory approvals necessary to implement the required rate reduction.

(4) Emergency communications support amount. Emergency communications support in the amount of up to $9.25 per month will be made available to eligible telecommunications carriers providing service to qualifying survivors. An eligible telecommunications carrier must certify to the Administrator that it will pass through the full amount of support to the qualifying survivor and that it has received any non-Federal regulatory approvals necessary to implement the rate reduction.

(i) The base reimbursement in this paragraph (a)(4) can be applied to survivors receiving service that meets either the minimum service standard for voice service or broadband internet access service, as determined in accordance with § 54.408.

(ii) Additional Federal Lifeline support of up to $25 per month will be made available to an eligible telecommunications carrier providing emergency communications support to an eligible survivor resident of Tribal lands, as defined in § 54.400(e), to the extent that the eligible telecommunications carrier certifies to the Administrator that it will pass through the full Tribal lands support amount to the qualifying eligible resident of Tribal lands and that it has received any non-Federal regulatory approvals necessary to implement the required rate reduction.

(b) Application of Lifeline discount amount. (1) Eligible telecommunications carriers that charge Federal End User Common Line charges or equivalent Federal charges must apply Federal Lifeline support to waive the Federal End User Common Line charges for Lifeline subscribers if the carrier is seeking Lifeline reimbursement for eligible voice telephony service provided to those subscribers. Such carriers must apply any additional Federal support amount to a qualifying low-income consumer's intrastate rate, if the carrier has received the non-Federal regulatory approvals necessary to implement the required rate reduction. Other eligible telecommunications carriers must apply the Federal Lifeline support amount, plus any additional support amount, to reduce the cost of any generally available residential service plan or package offered by such carriers that provides at least one service commensurate with the requirements outlined in § 54.408, and charge Lifeline subscribers the resulting amount.

(2) [Reserved]

[77 FR 12967, Mar. 2, 2012, as amended at 81 FR 33090, May 24, 2016; 83 FR 2084, Jan. 16, 2018; 86 FR 1021, Jan. 7, 2021; 88 FR 34782, May 31, 2023; 88 FR 84446, Dec. 5, 2023; 89 FR 70120, Aug. 29, 2024]
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 2011–2026 · leading case: Mozilla Corp. v. FCC, 940 F.3d 1 (D.C. Cir. 2019).
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Mozilla Corp. v. FCC, 940 F.3d 1 (D.C. Cir. 2019). · cites it 2× “§§ 214 , 254; 47 C.F.R. § 54.403 . The Governmental Petitioners challenged the 2018 Order on the ground that reclassification would eliminate the statutory basis for broadband’s inclusion in the Program.”
Nat'l Lifeline Ass'n v. FCC, 921 F.3d 1102 (D.C. Cir. 2019). · cites it 3× “47 C.F.R. § 54.403 (a)(1). Lifeline service may be provided only by eligible telecommunications carriers ("ETCs"), which are either certified by state public service commissions or *1107 designated by the Commission.”
Nat'l Lifeline Ass'n v. Fed. Commc'ns Comm'n, 915 F.3d 19 (D.C. Cir. 2019). · cites it 3× “47 C.F.R. § 54.403 (a)(1). Lifeline service may be provided only by eligible telecommunications carriers ("ETCs"), which are either certified by state public service commissions or *24 designated by the Commission.”
At&t, Inc. v. United States, 629 F.3d 505 (5th Cir. 2011). “47 C.F.R. §§ 54.403 (b)-(c) (1997), 54.411(a); see also 16 Tex.”
State Tax Assessor v. Tracfone Wireless, Inc., 2022 ME 36 (Me. 2022). “” 47 C.F.R. § 54.403 (a)(1) (2020). [¶6] In February 2010, the Public Utilities Commission granted TracFone’s application to operate as a Lifeline-only ETC in Maine, and TracFone began offering the service, known as SafeLink Wireless, in March 2010.”
State Tax Assessor v. Tracfone Wireless, Inc., 2022 ME 36 (Me. 2022). “” 47 C.F.R. § 54.403 (a)(1) (2020). [¶6] In February 2010, the Public Utilities Commission granted TracFone’s application to operate as a Lifeline-only ETC in Maine, and TracFone began offering the service, known as SafeLink Wireless, in March 2010.”
Whether FCC's Lifeline Prog. is a Benefit Subject to the Pers. Responsibility & Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (OLC 2026). · cites it 4× “See 47 C.F.R. § 54.403 (b). Lifeline providers must apply this discount because they accept reim- bursement from USAC.”
Nat'l Lifeline Ass'n v. FCC (AMENDED OPINION) (D.C. Cir. 2019). · cites it 3× “47 C.F.R. § 54.403 (a)(1). Lifeline service may be provided only by eligible telecommunications carriers (“ETCs”), which are either certified by state public service commissions or designated by the Commission.”
Mozilla Corp. v. FCC (D.C. Cir. 2019). · cites it 2× “§§ 214 , 254; 47 C.F.R. § 54.403 . The Governmental Petitioners challenged the 2018 Order on the ground that reclassification would eliminate the statutory basis for broadband’s inclusion in the Program.”
Maryland Attorney Gen. Opinion 99OAG208 (Md. Att'y Gen. 2014). · cites it 2× “” 47 C.F.R. § 54.403 (b)(1). C. Prepaid Wireless Providers, the Lifeline Program, and “Free” Cell Phones Because prepaid wireless customers pay up front, providers cannot give Lifeline participants a discount on their monthly bills, as the federal regulations contemplate.”
Truconnect Commc'ns, Inc. v. Peterson (9th Cir. 2025). “See 47 C.F.R. § 54.403 (a)(1). A participating provider, as defined in the regulations, is entitled to EBB reimbursement funds if it meets specified criteria.”
Telrite Corp. v. Nebraska Pub. Serv. Comm. (Neb. 2014). “866 The Telecommunications Act also authorized states to cre- ate their own universal service funds and maintain them with mandatory contributions from providers of intrastate telecom- munications services.”
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