As used in this subpart, the following terms shall be defined as follows:
(a) Qualifying low-income consumer. A ``qualifying low-income consumer'' is a consumer who meets the qualifications for Lifeline, as specified in Sec. 54.409.
(b) Toll blocking service. ``Toll blocking service'' is a service provided by an eligible telecommunications carrier that lets subscribers elect not to allow the completion of outgoing toll calls from their telecommunications channel.
(c) Toll control service. ``Toll control service'' is a service provided by an eligible telecommunications carrier that allows subscribers to specify a certain amount of toll usage that may be incurred on their telecommunications channel per month or per billing cycle.
(d) Toll limitation service. ``Toll limitation service'' denotes either toll blocking service or toll control service for eligible telecommunications carriers that are incapable of providing both services. For eligible telecommunications carriers that are capable of providing both services, ``toll limitation service'' denotes both toll blocking service and toll control service.
(e) Eligible resident of Tribal lands. An ``eligible resident of Tribal lands'' is a ``qualifying low-income consumer,'' as defined in paragraph (a) of this section, living on Tribal lands. For purposes of this subpart, ``Tribal lands'' include any federally recognized Indian tribe's reservation, pueblo, or colony, including former reservations in Oklahoma; Alaska Native regions established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688); Indian allotments; Hawaiian Home Lands--areas held in trust for Native Hawaiians by the state of Hawaii, pursuant to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920 July 9, 1921, 42 Stat. 108, et. seq., as amended; and any land designated as such by the Commission for purposes of this subpart pursuant to the designation process in Sec. 54.412.
(f) Income. ``Income'' is all income actually received by all members of a household. This includes salary before deductions for taxes, public assistance benefits, social security payments, pensions, unemployment compensation, veteran's benefits, inheritances, alimony, child support payments, worker's compensation benefits, gifts, lottery winnings, and the like. The only exceptions are student financial aid, military housing and cost-of-living allowances, irregular income from occasional small jobs such as baby-sitting or lawn mowing, and the like.
(g) Duplicative support. ``Duplicative support'' exists when a Lifeline subscriber is receiving two or more Lifeline services concurrently or two or more subscribers in a household are receiving Lifeline services or Tribal Link Up support concurrently.
(h) Household. A ``household'' is any individual or group of individuals who are living together at the same address as one economic unit. A household may include related and unrelated persons. An ``economic unit'' consists of all adult individuals contributing to and sharing in the income and expenses of a household. An adult is any person eighteen years or older. If an adult has no or minimal income, and lives with someone who provides financial support to him/her, both people shall be considered part of the same household. Children under the age of eighteen living with their parents or guardians are considered to be part of the same household as their parents or guardians.
(i) National Lifeline Accountability Database or Database. The ``National Lifeline Accountability Database'' or ``Database'' is an electronic system, with associated functions, processes, policies and procedures, to facilitate the detection and elimination of duplicative support, as directed by the Commission.
(j) Qualifying assistance program. A ``qualifying assistance program'' means any of the federal, state, or Tribal assistance programs participation in which, pursuant to Sec. 54.409(a) or (b), qualifies a consumer for Lifeline service, including Medicaid; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; Supplemental Security Income; Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8); Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program; National School Lunch Program's free lunch program; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; Bureau of Indian Affairs general assistance; Tribally administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF); Head Start (only those households meeting its income qualifying standard); or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), and with respect to the residents of any particular state, any other program so designated by that state pursuant to Sec. 54.409(a).
(k) Direct service. As used in this subpart, direct service means the provision of service directly to the qualifying low-income consumer. [77 FR 12966, Mar. 2, 2012, as amended at 80 FR 40935, July 14, 2015]
Effective Date Note: At 80 FR 40935, July 14, 2015, Sec. 54.400 was amended by adding paragraph (k). 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.