CHAPTER 36. INDIANA LIFELINE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

IC 8-1-36
    Chapter 36. Indiana Lifeline Assistance Program

IC 8-1-36-1
Application of chapter
    Sec. 1. This chapter applies to an eligible telecommunicationscarrier that offers basic telecommunications service in one (1) ormore exchange areas in Indiana.
As added by P.L.27-2006, SEC.59.

IC 8-1-36-2
Application of definitions
    Sec. 2. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, thedefinitions in IC 8-1-2.6 apply throughout this chapter.
As added by P.L.27-2006, SEC.59.

IC 8-1-36-3
"Commission"
    Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "commission" refers to the Indianautility regulatory commission created by IC 8-1-1-2.
As added by P.L.27-2006, SEC.59.

IC 8-1-36-4
"Eligible telecommunications carrier"
    Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "eligible telecommunicationscarrier" refers to a local exchange carrier that is designated as aneligible telecommunications carrier by the commission under 47 CFR54.201.
As added by P.L.27-2006, SEC.59.

IC 8-1-36-5
"Federal Lifeline program"
    Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "federal Lifeline program" refersto the retail local service offering:
        (1) available only to qualifying low-income consumers (asdefined in 47 CFR 54.400(a));
        (2) for which qualifying low-income consumers pay reducedcharges as a result of the application of the Lifeline supportamount described in 47 CFR 54.403; and
        (3) that includes the services and functionalities set forth in 47CFR 54.101(a)(1) through 47 CFR 54.101(a)(9);
as described in 47 CFR 54.401.
As added by P.L.27-2006, SEC.59.

IC 8-1-36-6
"Participant"
    Sec. 6. As used in this chapter, "participant" refers to an eligiblecustomer who applies for and receives assistance through theprogram.
As added by P.L.27-2006, SEC.59.
IC 8-1-36-7
"Program"
    Sec. 7. As used in this chapter, "program" refers to the IndianaLifeline assistance program established by the commission undersection 8 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.27-2006, SEC.59.

IC 8-1-36-8
Rules to establish program; funding mechanisms; reduced ratesfor basic telecommunications service
    Sec. 8. (a) Not later than July 1, 2008, the commission shall adoptrules under IC 4-22-2 to establish the Indiana Lifeline assistanceprogram. The program shall offer reduced charges for basictelecommunications service to eligible customers. The rules adoptedby the commission under this section must do the following:
        (1) Require an eligible telecommunications carrier to offer tolllimitation (as defined in 47 CFR 54.400(d)) to an eligiblecustomer who applies for assistance under the program. Therules must specify that an eligible telecommunications carriermay not charge a participant an administrative charge or anyother additional amount for toll limitation.
        (2) Allow an eligible telecommunications carrier to block aparticipant's access to interexchange service, except for accessto toll free numbers, if the participant owes an outstandingamount for basic telecommunications service. The rules mustrequire an eligible telecommunications carrier to remove theblock without additional cost to the participant upon paymentof the outstanding amount.
        (3) Prohibit an eligible telecommunications carrier fromdiscontinuing basic telecommunications service to a participantbecause of nonpayment by the participant of charges for otherservices billed by the eligible telecommunications carrier,including interexchange service.
    (b) Funding for the following costs of the program shall bedetermined by the commission, after notice and hearing, in a mannerbased on and consistent with comparable federal fundingmechanisms for the federal Lifeline program:
        (1) The costs of reimbursing eligible telecommunicationscarriers for lost revenues associated with providing reducedcharges for basic telecommunications service to participants.
        (2) Reasonable expenses incurred by the commission andeligible telecommunications carriers to:
            (A) administer the program; and
            (B) publicize the availability of the program in a mannerreasonably designed to reach eligible customers.
    (c) The rules adopted by the commission under IC 4-22-2 toestablish the program must:
        (1) take effect not later than July 1, 2009; and
        (2) be consistent with this chapter.
Upon the effective date of the rules adopted by the commission under

this section, an eligible telecommunications carrier shall offer basictelecommunications service to an eligible customer at the reducedrates established under the rules.
As added by P.L.27-2006, SEC.59.

IC 8-1-36-9
Eligibility for reduced rates under program
    Sec. 9. A customer is eligible to receive reduced rates for basictelecommunications service under the program if:
        (1) the customer's income (as defined in 47 CFR 54.400(f))does not exceed one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the federalpoverty guidelines; or
        (2) any person in the customer's household receives or has achild who receives any of the following:
            (A) Medicaid.
            (B) Food stamps.
            (C) Supplemental Security Income.
            (D) Federal public housing assistance.
            (E) Home energy assistance under a program administeredby the lieutenant governor under IC 4-4-33-1(3).
            (F) Assistance under the federal Temporary Assistance forNeedy Families (TANF) program (45 CFR 260 et seq.).
            (G) Free lunches under the national school lunch program.
As added by P.L.27-2006, SEC.59. Amended by P.L.1-2007, SEC.79;P.L.1-2009, SEC.65.

IC 8-1-36-10
Tier Three federal Lifeline support
    Sec. 10. An eligible telecommunications carrier may seek TierThree federal Lifeline support under 47 CFR 54.403(a)(3) inconnection with support provided by the eligible telecommunicationscarrier under this chapter.
As added by P.L.27-2006, SEC.59.