§ 54.416   Annual certifications by eligible telecommunications carriers.

   (a) Eligible telecommunications carrier certifications. Eligible
   telecommunications carriers are required to make and submit to the
   Administrator the following annual certifications, under penalty of
   perjury, relating to the Lifeline program:

   (1) An officer of each eligible telecommunications carrier must certify
   that the carrier has policies and procedures in place to ensure that
   its Lifeline subscribers are eligible to receive Lifeline services.
   Each eligible telecommunications carrier must make this certification
   annually to the Administrator as part of the carrier's submission of
   annual re-certification data pursuant to this section. In instances
   where an eligible telecommunications carrier confirms consumer
   eligibility by relying on income or eligibility databases, as defined
   in § 54.410(b)(1)(i)(A) or (c)(1)(i)(A), the representative must attest
   annually as to what specific data sources the eligible
   telecommunications carrier used to confirm eligibility.

   (2) An officer of the eligible telecommunications carrier must certify
   that the carrier is in compliance with all federal Lifeline
   certification procedures. Eligible telecommunications carriers must
   make this certification annually to the Administrator as part of the
   carrier's submission of re-certification data pursuant to this section.

   (3) An officer of the eligible telecommunications carrier must certify
   that the carrier is in compliance with the minimum service levels set
   forth in § 54.408. Eligible telecommunications carriers must make this
   certification annually to the Administrator as part of the carrier's
   submission of re-certification data pursuant to this section.

   (b) All eligible telecommunications carriers must annually provide the
   results of their re-certification efforts, performed pursuant to
   § 54.410(f), to the Commission and the Administrator. Eligible
   telecommunications carriers designated as such by one or more states
   pursuant to § 54.201 must also provide, on an annual basis, the results
   of their re-certification efforts to state commissions for subscribers
   residing in those states where the state designated the eligible
   telecommunications carrier. Eligible telecommunications carriers must
   also provide their annual re-certification results for subscribers
   residing on Tribal lands to the relevant Tribal governments.

   (c) States that mandate Lifeline support may impose additional
   standards on eligible telecommunications carriers operating in their
   states to ensure compliance with state Lifeline programs.

   [ 77 FR 12973 , Mar. 2, 2012, as amended at  77 FR 38534 , June 28, 2012;
    81 FR 33094 , May 24, 2016]

   Effective Date Note: At  81 FR 33094 , May 24, 2016, § 54.416 was amended
   by adding paragraph (a)(3). 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.

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