How It Works

Lifeline is a federal program that offers a monthly benefit of up to $9.25 towards phone or internet services for eligible subscribers (up to $34.25 for those living on Tribal lands).

Eligible Consumers

A consumer can qualify for the Lifeline benefit if their income is 135% or less than the federal poverty guidelines, or if they participate in SNAP, Medicaid, or other federal programs. See the full list of qualifying factors.

Eligible Services

Lifeline subscribers can apply their benefit to home or mobile phone service or to high-speed broadband.

The Process

These steps will help service providers navigate the process to join Lifeline as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC).

1

Become an ETC

2

Create a Compliance Plan

3

Obtain a Study Area Code

4

Obtain a 498 ID

Announcements

Lifeline Newsletter – July 2026

  • Improved Representative ID Retrieval in RAD
  • California Subscribers Continued Eligibility Begins Early August
  • FCC Announces Updated Minimum Service Standards and Voice-Only Phase-Out Extension
  • Deadline Approaching: Update FCC Form 498 with SAM.gov Registration and UEI 
  • USAC will perform an ad-hoc system maintenance on Thursday, July 30, from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m....

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The FCC Releases Annual Public Notice: Conditional Forbearance on Lifeline Voice Obligations

On July 9, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) issued a Public...

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Ad-Hoc System Maintenance on 7/23

USAC will perform an ad-hoc system maintenance on Thursday, July 23, from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m....

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July Monthly System Maintenance

USAC will perform monthly system maintenance on Friday, July 17, from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. ET.

The...

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