Multiple Household Duplicates Being Addressed Prior to Launch of National Database

The FCC has directed USAC to implement a pilot program in Michigan that will test and develop a permanent process to identify and eliminate “Track 2” Lifeline duplicates (multiple recipients of Lifeline services who reside at the same street address).  The task at hand is to determine whether there is a single or multiple households at that address, a household being defined as any individual or group of individuals who are living together at the same address that share income and expenses. Nexus, AT&T, TracFone, and Virgin Mobile have volunteered to participate in the pilot, which will test the best means of eliciting a response from subscribers with sufficient information to make this determination.  USAC will initially send a letter requiring each such subscriber to complete USAC’s “one-per-household” worksheet, which can be done in a voice recording or other electronic means.  It will then direct half of these subscribers to complete the worksheet with their respective ETCs, either over the phone or using the means chosen by the ETC. The other half will be directed to provide responses directly to USAC over the phone.  USAC will then report the response results to the FCC, which will evaluate the effectiveness of each response method.  The FCC’s letter to USAC includes an appendix with detailed instructions on how USAC and the ETCs are to implement each option.