Do you qualify for lower cost phone service?

You may be qualified to save money on your telephone bills through the Lifeline and Link-up Telephone Service Programs.  Lifeline and Link-Up are two government assistance programs that help income eligible customers save money on their phone bills and stay connected to vital emergency and community services, friends, and family.

Link-up:  The Link-up program provides a discount on the cost of initiating service for a primary residential telephone, even a wireless phone. The program pays one-half (up to $30) of the initial installation fee for a traditional, wireline telephone or the activation fee for a wireless telephone.

Lifeline:  Under the Lifeline program, wireline customers receive a waiver of the federal subscriber line charge, a savings of at least $75 annually, as well as a discount on their basic local service charge. The total discount varies depending on their local telephone service provider. Additional discounts are provided for consumers on tribal lands. Also, some wireless companies now offer Lifeline savings to eligible customers; consumers should contact their providers to see if they participate in Lifeline.

For details on program discounts and eligibility, read our Lifeline publication or contact your local telephone company for additional information.  You can look for your company's contact information using our list of telephone service companies that have Lifeline programs.  Also, you can visit our media library to hear our Lifeline radio and television ads. 

If you are interested in applying for Lifeline, print a Lifeline application and send it to your local telephone company along with the appropriate documentation requested on the application.  You can find the contact information regarding your phone company on the list noted above or on your telephone bill.

Check it out!- Visit the www.lifeline.gov Web site for more information on the Lifeline program.  The site was developed by a federal/state Working Group formed in 2005 to address the problem of how to reach consumers who may be eligible for Lifeline and Link-Up and ensure they have access to information about the programs and how to apply. The Working Group includes representatives of the:

• Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
• National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and
• National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA).