{"abstract":"In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) acts to restore the traditional role of states in the eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) designation process. The Commission also acts to strengthen the Lifeline program's enrollment, recertification, and reimbursement processes so that limited Universal Service Fund (USF or Fund) dollars are directed only toward qualifying low-income consumers.","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/2019/12/27/2019-27220.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":54,"title":47}],"citation":"84 FR 71308","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Effective January 27, 2020, except for amendatory instruction 7 (Sec. 54.406(b)) which is effective February 25, 2020 and amendatory instruction 8 (Sec. 54.406(a)) which is effective March 26, 2020 and amendatory instructions 6.b. (Sec. 54.404(b)(12)) and 11 (Sec. 54.410(f)), which are delayed. The Federal Communications Commission will publish a document in the Federal Register announcing this effective date.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["WC Docket Nos. 17-287, 11-42 and 09-197","FCC 19-111","FRS 16302"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"2019-27220","effective_on":"2020-01-27","end_page":71329,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2019/12/27/2019-27220.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/12/27/2019-27220/bridging-the-digital-divide-for-low-income-consumers","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2019-27220?publication_date=2019-12-27","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2019-12-27/2019-27220/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":22,"page_views":{"count":1317,"last_updated":"2026-07-26 22:15:03 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-12-27/pdf/2019-27220.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2019-27220.pdf?1577367917","publication_date":"2019-12-27","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2019/12/27/2019-27220.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{},"regulation_id_numbers":[],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2020-01-05T04:30:08Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":null,"signing_date":null,"start_page":71308,"subtype":null,"title":"Bridging the Digital Divide for Low-Income Consumers","toc_doc":"Bridging the Digital Divide for Low-Income Consumers","toc_subject":null,"topics":["Communications common carriers","Internet","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Telecommunications","Telephone"],"type":"Rule","volume":84}