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NARUC and State Regulators Recognize Lifeline Awareness Week:
The FCC’s Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Programs Help Citizens
Stay Connected
WASHINGTON (September 12, 2022) — The National Association of Regulatory
Utility Commissioners, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and
state regulators across the country are observing September 12-16 as Lifeline
Awareness Week. The post-Labor Day event has been observed since 2008,
when NARUC, state regulatory commissions, the FCC and the National
Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates designated this week as a time
to build greater awareness around the Lifeline program.
Access to local emergency services and community resources is vital to every
person. Lifeline helps low-income consumers connect to the nation’s voice and
broadband networks, find jobs, access health care services, connect with family
and call for help in an emergency. For some, being connected can be the
difference between social connection and complete isolation.
Under the federal Lifeline Program, low-income consumers who participate in
certain public assistance programs or who qualify based on income can receive
a discount of up to $9.25 per month off their monthly broadband-qualifying
service bill, up to $5.25 off their voice-qualifying service bill and up to an
additional $25 per month off for residents on Tribal lands. Information on
program eligibility and rules is available at
http://www.lifelinesupport.org
. A video
in American Sign Language about Lifeline is available at
https://youtu.be/wwkjVrd5xHc
.
A complementary program — the Affordable Connectivity Program — is also
available to qualifying households. The ACP provides a monthly discount on
broadband service of up to $30 per eligible household (or up to $75 per eligible
household on Tribal lands). There is also a subsidy to permit customers to
purchase a computer or tablet at a discount. The participating broadband service
provider will receive the funds directly from the ACP.
“NARUC is pleased to work with state members, the FCC and consumer groups
to ensure that our communities are aware of these important benefits,” said
NARUC President and Virginia State Corporation Commission Judge Judith
Williams Jagdmann. “The events of the last few years underscore the need for
reliable connectivity for telework, telehealth and remote learning. Equally
important, reliable connectivity is needed to maintain contact with and provide
support for friends and relatives.”
“I would encourage anyone struggling to afford phone and broadband service to
learn more about these programs,” said Michigan Commissioner Tremaine L.
Phillips, who also chairs NARUC’s Committee on Telecommunications. “There
are more than six million Lifeline subscribers across the country, but more than
34 million households are eligible. It’s important that we work toward closing that
gap.”
Throughout the awareness week, NARUC will post information highlighting the
benefits of Lifeline on social media using the hashtags #NARUC4NLAW and
#LifelineAwarenessWeek.
Lifeline is the FCC’s program to help make communications services more
affordable for low-income consumers. Lifeline provides subscribers a discount on
monthly telephone service, broadband Internet service, or bundled voice- broadband packages purchased from participating wireline or wireless providers.
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