Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 165 - Corporation Commission › Chapter 59 - Oklahoma Universal Service and Oklahoma Lifeline › Subchapter 9 - Oklahoma Lifeline Fund › Part 1 - LIFELINE SERVICE PROGRAM › Section 165:59-9-3 - Oklahoma Lifeline Service Program

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
(a) The Oklahoma Lifeline Service Program is
				  a program designed to operate in conjunction with the Federal Lifeline program,
				  to provide a monthly credit to the monthly bill of qualifying residential
				  subscribers for basic local exchange service, in an amount equal to such amount
				  as may be established by 17 O.S. § 139.105.
(b) In order to qualify for the Oklahoma
				  Lifeline Service Program, a customer must meet all applicable requirements of
				  47 CFR §§
											54.400 through
				  54.422
				  and /or 17 O.S. §
										139.105.
(c) Each eligible local exchange
				  telecommunications service provider shall file tariffs implementing a Lifeline
				  Service Program that is consistent with this Subchapter.
(d) Lifeline Assistance shall not be
				  available on a retroactive basis to the customers.
(e) Upon notification to the eligible local
				  exchange telecommunications service provider, the credit will be discontinued
				  for customers who no longer qualify for Lifeline Assistance.
(f) Lifeline Service benefits are applicable
				  only to the primary line at the customer's principal residence. An applicant
				  for Lifeline Service may report only one address in the state as the principal
				  place of residence.
(g) As a
				  participant in Lifeline Assistance, customers will be eligible to receive Toll
				  Restriction Service at no charge.
(h) Each eligible local exchange
				  telecommunications service provider with approved Lifeline Service tariffs
				  shall advertise the availability of the Lifeline Service Program within its
				  exchange(s) or service territory on, at a minimum, an annual basis.
(i) The wireless eligible local exchange
				  telecommunications service provider must provide access to its own customer
				  service department by dialing 611 from the wireless handset or have a toll free
				  number for contacting the eligible local exchange telecommunications service
				  provider programmed in the phone and clearly identified.
(j) All enrollment in any Lifeline Services
				  from any outdoor mobile location shall be governed by OAC
				  165:55-23-16.
(k) Any wireless handset provided
				  in conjunction with the Lifeline Service must clearly and permanently identify
				  the provider of the service.
(l) An
				  eligible local exchange telecommunications service provider may not provide
				  Lifeline Service purely by resale without a Commission order.
(m) An approved Lifeline tariff may not be
				  modified without submitting the modification to the OLF Administrator at least
				  fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the effective date of the proposed change
				  for the purpose of receiving a determination whether the modification is in the
				  public interest. Unless the eligible local exchange telecommunications service
				  provider receives written notification that its modification is NOT IN THE
				  PUBLIC INTEREST within fifteen (15) calendar days after its submission, the
				  submission is deemed to be in the public interest and may be implemented.
(n) The eligible local exchange
				  telecommunications service provider shall utilize a third party verification
				  system that has been approved by the OLF Administrator to verify the customer's
				  identity and address, or obtain a waiver from the OLF Administrator from this
				  requirement.
(o) The eligible local
				  exchange telecommunications service provider must retain a copy of the signed
				  application for Lifeline Service, and any recertification information for five
				  (5) years.
(p) The eligible local
				  exchange telecommunications service provider shall maintain a database
				  sufficient to identify any duplicates among all companies associated with the
				  eligible local exchange telecommunications service provider.
(q) Unless otherwise approved by Commission
				  Order, any Lifeline plan on Tribal Land must include a minimum of one thousand
				  (1,000) minutes of local voice use or unlimited domestic calling, to be
				  considered in the public interest. Any Lifeline plan on non-Tribal Land must
				  include a minimum of five-hundred (500) minutes of local voice use to be
				  considered in the public interest.
(r) All marketing efforts must clearly
				  identify the eligible local exchange telecommunications service provider
				  actually providing the Lifeline Service.
(s) In addition to other remedies available
				  to the Commission, violations of the marketing rules may result in a minimum of
				  a thirty (30) days suspension of an eligible local exchange telecommunications
				  service provider's ability to sign up new customers and/or a fine as authorized
				  by 17 O.S. §
										139.105
				  after notice and hearing.
(t) The
				  eligible local exchange telecommunications service provider seeking
				  reimbursement from the OLF for the provisioning of Lifeline services shall also
				  note on the certified written statement obtained from the customer the name of
				  the employee or representative who verified the customer's eligibility for
				  Lifeline service and the type of documentation reviewed.
(u) Prior to obtaining money from the OLF, an
				  eligible local exchange telecommunications service provider must show
				  compliance with 17 O.S. §
										139.105
				  (E).
Added at 15 Ok Reg 1195, eff 1-6-98 (emergency) ; Added
						at 15 Ok Reg 1915, eff 7-1-98 ; Amended at 16 Ok Reg 2360, eff 7-1-99 ; Amended
						at 19 Ok Reg 2017, eff 7-1-02 ; Amended at 28 Ok Reg 2255, eff 7-25-11 ;
						Amended at 30 Ok Reg 1581, eff 7-11-13