§  54.403   Lifeline support amount.

   (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 a eligible
   telecommunications carrier providing facilities-based Lifeline service
   to an eligible resident of Tribal lands, as defined in § 54.400(e), if
   the subscriber's residential location is rural, as defined in
   § 54.505(b)(3)(i) and (ii), and 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]

   Effective Date Note: At  83 FR 2084 , Jan. 16, 2018, § 54.403(a)(3) was
   revised. This paragraph contains information collection and
   recordkeeping requirements and will not become effective until approval
   has been given by the Office of Management and Budget.