Dish in USAC Appeal Says It Followed EBB Rules
Dish Network followed the FCC-set verification procedure when enrolling people in the emergency broadband benefit (EBB) program, the company said Tuesday in a docket 20-445 request for review appealing a Universal Service Administrative Co. decision about unqualified people being enrolled.…
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USAC's national verifier confirmed those subscribers as eligible. Yet USAC is acting against Dish, AT&T and other providers after the FCC Office of Inspector General found deficiencies in the verification process (see 2111220058), Dish said. It argued USAC lacks legal authority to retroactively apply new criteria to subscribers, as it has solely an administrative role and there aren't FCC orders or directions setting the criteria USAC is now applying. Even if some EBB recoupment is warranted, USAC's analysis "is incomplete and relies on faulty assumptions," Dish said. It added USAC "significantly overstates" the potential recovery amount. Portions of Dish's appeal were redacted.