FCC FCC Universal Service Fund Programs 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the monthly Lifeline benefit amount for eligible consumers?
- $5.25
- $7.50
- $9.25 (Correct answer)
- $12.00
Correct answer: $9.25
The standard Lifeline benefit is $9.25 per month, which can be applied to voice service or broadband internet service.
Question 2: Which USF program specifically provides discounts on telecommunications services to rural health care providers?
- High Cost Program
- Rural Health Care Program (Correct answer)
- Lifeline
- Connect America Fund
Correct answer: Rural Health Care Program
The Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible rural health care providers to help them pay for telecommunications and broadband services needed to serve patients.
Question 3: Under which part of the FCC's rules are Universal Service regulations primarily codified?
- Part 15
- Part 27
- Part 54 (Correct answer)
- Part 97
Correct answer: Part 54
47 CFR Part 54 contains the FCC's universal service rules, governing contributions, eligible services, and the four USF support programs.
Question 4: The Connect America Fund (CAF) was primarily created to support the deployment of what type of service?
- Emergency alert systems in rural counties
- Satellite television in underserved markets
- Broadband-capable networks in high-cost areas (Correct answer)
- Urban telecommunications infrastructure upgrades
Correct answer: Broadband-capable networks in high-cost areas
The Connect America Fund reformed the High Cost USF program to shift support toward deploying broadband-capable infrastructure in high-cost, typically rural, areas.
Question 5: What type of mechanism does the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) use to allocate funding to carriers?
- First-come, first-served grant applications
- State-administered competitive grants
- Reverse auction (Correct answer)
- Formula-based per-line distribution
Correct answer: Reverse auction
RDOF uses a reverse auction mechanism in which eligible carriers bid to receive the least amount of subsidy needed to deploy broadband in unserved areas.
Question 6: To qualify for Lifeline benefits, a consumer's household income must be at or below what percentage of the federal poverty guidelines?
- 100%
- 135% (Correct answer)
- 150%
- 200%
Correct answer: 135%
Consumers are income-eligible for Lifeline if their household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines, or if they participate in certain assistance programs.
Question 7: Which designation must a carrier obtain before it can receive High Cost USF support?
- Common Carrier Designation (CCD)
- Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) (Correct answer)
- Universal Service Provider (USP)
- Rural Priority Carrier (RPC)
Correct answer: Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC)
Carriers must be designated as Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETCs) by their state commission or the FCC before they can receive any High Cost USF support.
FCC FCC Universal Service Fund Programs 2
What is the monthly Lifeline benefit amount for eligible consumers?