1. Lifeline Customer Recertification in Massachusetts Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable NARUC Staff Subcommittee on Telecommunications Summer Meeting - July 21, 2013

2. Summary of Recertification in MA 331,120 MA Lifeline subscribers contacted/reviewed for recertification 109,380 subscribers, or 33% of all those contacted/reviewed, were de-enrolled *Source (throughout): FCC Form 555 (2013)

4. Summary of Recertification in MA 331,120 MA Lifeline subscribers contacted or reviewed for re- certification 109,380 subscribers, or 33% of all those contacted or reviewed, were de-enrolled The average de-enrollment rate for wireless ETCs (29%) was lower than the de-enrollment rate for wireline ETCs (53%)

6. Summary of Recertification in MA 331,120 MA Lifeline subscribers contacted or reviewed for re- certification 109,380 subscribers, or 33% of all those contacted or reviewed, were de-enrolled The average de-enrollment rate for wireless ETCs (29%) was lower than the de-enrollment rate for wireline ETCs (53%) 92% of de-enrollments were due to subscribers’ failures to respond to ETCs’ direct contact to recertify

7. Non-responding subscribers Subscribers responding that they are no longer eligible Subscribers de- enrolled as a result of a finding of ineligibility through accessing a database Granby4900 Verizon29,08500 Richmond000 Virgin Mobile48,7604240 Tracfone22,43908,623 Total (% of de-enrolled subscribers) 100,333 (91.7%)424 (0.4%)8,623 (7.9%) De-enrollment by Type

8. Summary of Recertification in MA 331,120 MA Lifeline subscribers contacted or reviewed for re- certification 109,380 subscribers, or 33% of all those contacted or reviewed, were de-enrolled The average de-enrollment rate for wireless ETCs (29%) was lower than the de-enrollment rate for wireline ETCs (53%) 92% of de-enrollments were due to subscribers’ failures to respond to ETCs’ direct contact to recertify 99.7% of subscribers reviewed by accessing an eligibility database were de-enrolled as ineligible

9. Options? The Lifeline Reform Order authorized states to “supplement the federal re-certification methodology with their own procedures specifically tailored to state-specific program requirements.” (¶ 140)

10. Options? (for discussion purposes only) Mandate that USAC perform recertification for ETCs Require ETCs to check duplicates and/or eligibility database as part of recertification Require subscribers to prove with documentation that they are still eligible Require multiple contacts, or certain types of contacts

13. DTC Lifeline Investigation The DTC sought comment on: – whether the recertification steps outlined in the Lifeline Reform Order are sufficient to encourage response from subscribers and prevent de-enrollment of otherwise eligible Lifeline subscribers – whether ETCs should take more action to retain eligible Lifeline subscribers during the recertification process Docket D.T.C. 13-4 mass.gov/dtc

14. Thank you.