{"abstract":"In this document, the Federal Communications Commission comprehensively reforms and begins to modernize the Universal Service Fund's Lifeline program. The reforms adopted in this document substantially strengthen protections against waste, fraud, and abuse; improve program administration and accountability; improve enrollment and consumer disclosures; initiate modernization of the program for broadband; and constrain the growth of the program in order to reduce the burden on all who contribute to the Universal Service Fund.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION","name":"Federal Communications Commission","id":161,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/federal-communications-commission","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/161","parent_id":null,"slug":"federal-communications-commission"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2012/03/02/2012-4978.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":54,"title":47}],"citation":"77 FR 12952","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Effective April 2, 2012, except for the amendments to Sec. Sec. 54.202(a), 54.401(c), 54.403, 54.407, 54.410, 54.416, 54.417, 54.420, 54.222 which contain information collection requirements that are not effective until approved by the Office of Management and Budget. The Federal Communications Commission will publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date for those sections, and except for the amendments contained herein to 47 CFR 54.411, 54.412, 54.413 and 54.414 which shall become effective April 1, 2012; and 47 CFR 54.409 which shall become effective June 1, 2012.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["WC Docket Nos. 11-42, 03-109, 12-23 and CC Docket No. 96-45","FCC 12-11"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"2012-4978","effective_on":"2012-04-02","end_page":12980,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2012/03/02/2012-4978.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2012/03/02/2012-4978/lifeline-and-link-up-reform-and-modernization-advancing-broadband-availability-through-digital","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2012-4978?publication_date=2012-03-02","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2012-03-02/2012-4978/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":29,"page_views":{"count":1116,"last_updated":"2026-08-25 14:15:04 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2012-03-02/pdf/2012-4978.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2012-04978.pdf?1330610150","publication_date":"2012-03-02","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2012/03/02/2012-4978.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{},"regulation_id_numbers":[],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[],"comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=FCC-2012-0072","supporting_documents_count":0,"docket_id":"FCC-2012-0072","regulation_id_number":null,"title":"Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization: Advancing Broadband Availability Through Digital Literacy Training","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2012-04-27T21:47:30Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":null,"signing_date":null,"start_page":12952,"subtype":null,"title":"Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization, Advancing Broadband Availability Through Digital Literacy Training","toc_doc":"Advancing Broadband Availability Through Digital Literacy Training","toc_subject":"Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization:","topics":["Communications common carriers","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Telecommunications","Telephone"],"type":"Rule","volume":77}