§  54.1608   Reimbursement for providing Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
discount.

   (a) Emergency Broadband Benefit Program support for providing a
   qualifying broadband internet access service shall be provided directly
   to a participating provider based on the number of actual qualifying
   low-income households listed in the National Lifeline Accountability
   Database that the participating provider serves directly as of the
   first of the month.

   (b) For each eligible household receiving Emergency Broadband
   Benefit-supported service, the reimbursement amount shall equal the
   appropriate support amount as described in 47 CFR 54.1603, except as
   otherwise provided by 47 CFR 54.1603(c). The participating provider's
   Emergency Broadband Benefit Program reimbursement shall not exceed the
   participating provider's standard rate for that offering.

   (c) A participating provider offering an Emergency Broadband Benefit
   Program service with a standard rate that does not require the
   participating provider to assess and collect a monthly fee from its
   subscribers must certify that every subscriber claimed has used their
   supported service, as defined by 47 CFR 54.407(c)(2), at least once
   during the service month being claimed prior in order to claim that
   subscriber for reimbursement in that month.

   (d) A participating provider that, in addition to providing the
   Emergency Broadband Benefit to an eligible household, provides such
   household with a connected device may be reimbursed up to $100.00 for
   such connected device, if the charge to such eligible household is more
   than $10.00 but less than $50.00 for such connected device, except that
   a participating provider may receive reimbursement for no more than one
   (1) connected device per eligible household.

   (e) In order to receive Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
   reimbursement, an officer of the participating provider must certify,
   as part of each request for reimbursement, that:

   (1) The officer is authorized to submit the request on behalf of the
   participating provider;

   (2) The officer has read the instructions relating to reimbursements
   and the funds sought in the reimbursement request are for services
   and/or devices that were provided in accordance with the Emergency
   Broadband Benefit Program rules and requirements;

   (3) The participating provider is in compliance with all of the rules
   in this subpart;

   (4) The participating provider has obtained valid certification and
   application forms as required by the rules in this subpart for each of
   the subscribers for whom it is seeking reimbursement;

   (5) The amount for which the participating provider is seeking
   reimbursement from the Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund is not
   more than the standard rate;

   (6) Each eligible household for which the participating provider is
   seeking reimbursement for providing an internet service offering—

   (i) Has not been and will not be charged—

   (A) For such offering, if the standard rate for such offering is less
   than or equal to the amount of the emergency broadband benefit for such
   household; or

   (B) More for such offering than the difference between the standard
   rate for such offering and the amount of the emergency broadband
   benefit for such household;

   (ii) Will not be required to pay an early termination fee if such
   eligible household elects to enter into a contract to receive such
   internet service offering if such household later terminates such
   contract;

   (iii) Was not, after the date of the enactment of the Consolidated
   Appropriations Act, subject to a mandatory waiting period for such
   internet service offering based on having previously received broadband
   internet access service from such participating provider; and

   (iv) Will otherwise be subject to the participating provider's
   generally applicable terms and conditions as applied to other
   customers.

   (7) Each eligible household for which the participating provider is
   seeking reimbursement for supplying such household with a connected
   device was charged by the provider more than $10.00 but less than
   $50.00 for such connected device;

   (8) That the connected device claimed meets the Commission's
   requirements, that the reimbursement claim amount reflects the market
   value of the device, and that the connected device has been delivered
   to the household;

   (9) The process used by the participating provider to verify that a
   household is eligible for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, if
   the provider elects an alternative verification process and that such
   verification process was designed to avoid waste, fraud, and abuse.

   (10) The provider has retained the relevant supporting documents that
   demonstrate the connected devices requested are eligible for
   reimbursement;

   (11) All documentation associated with the reimbursement form,
   including all records for services and/or connected devices provided,
   will be retained for a period of at least six years after the last date
   of delivery of the supported services and/or connected devices provided
   through the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, and are subject to
   audit;

   (12) The provider neither received nor paid kickbacks, as defined by 41
   U.S.C. 8701, in connection with the Emergency Broadband Benefit
   Program;

   (13) The information contained in this form is true, complete, and
   accurate to the best of the officer's knowledge, information, and
   belief, and is based on information known to the officer or provided to
   officer by employees responsible for the information being submitted;

   (14) The officer is aware that any false, fictitious, or fraudulent
   information, or the omission of any material fact, may subject the
   officer to criminal, civil, or administrative penalties for fraud,
   false statements, false claims, or otherwise. (18 U.S.C. 286-287, 1001,
   1341, 31 U.S.C. 3729-3730, 3801-3812.); and

   (15) No service costs or devices sought for reimbursement have been
   waived, paid, or promised to be paid by another entity, including any
   Federal program.

   (f) In order to receive Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
   reimbursement, a participating provider must keep accurate records of
   the revenues it forgoes in providing Emergency Broadband
   Benefit-supported services. Such records shall be kept in the form
   directed by the Administrator and provided to the Administrator at
   intervals as directed by the Administrator or as provided in this
   subpart.

   (g) In order to receive reimbursement, participating providers shall
   submit certified reimbursement claims through Lifeline Claims System by
   the 15th of each month, or the following business day in the event the
   15th is a holiday or falls on a weekend. If the participating provider
   fails to submit a certified reimbursement claim by the deadline for
   that month, the reimbursement claim will not be processed.