Low-Income Telephone or Broadband Internet Access Service

Assistance Program

LIFELINE TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Laurens Municipal Broadband Communications Utility (LMPC) offers Lifeline program supported service.  The Lifeline program provides discounts to eligible low-income consumers to help them establish and maintain telephone service or qualifying broadband internet access service (BIAS).

RATES

Subscribers may receive a Lifeline credit up to $9.25 on any qualifying telecommunication service, including bundled services that are normally offered by LMPC.  Advertised rates do not include any applicable taxes or surcharges.  In addition, the Federal Universal Service Charge is not assessed to consumers participating in Lifeline.  Qualified low-income residential consumers can utilize the benefit for one telephone line or qualifying BIAS per eligible household.

• Residential Phone Line                       $10.00 per month
• LMPC Long Distance                           $  0.12 per minute
• LMPC Unlimited Long Distance   $15.00 per month
• Fiber Internet 200 Mbps                  $58.00 per month

HOW TO APPLY FOR LIFELINE

To receive the Lifeline credit, a subscriber MUST apply for and receive eligibility approval from the Lifeline National Verifier.  After receiving eligibility approval, the subscriber MUST notify their service provider to be enrolled in the Lifeline program.  After enrollment, the subscriber will be eligible to receive the Lifeline credit on their invoice.

There are three different ways a subscriber can apply for the benefit with the Lifeline National Verifier:

• Electronic application on the Lifeline National Verifier website
  • https://www.lifelinesupport.org/national-verifier/
• Paper application mailed to the Lifeline National Verifier for review and approval
  • Printable version of application
    • https://www.usac.org/wp-content/uploads/lifeline/documents/forms/LI_Application_NVstates.pdf 
  • Mail the application and eligibility information to:
    •  USAC Lifeline Support Center, PO Box 9100, Wilkes-Barre, PA  18773-9100
• Complete an in-person interview with a service provider.  During the interview all information will be entered in the Lifeline National Verifier electronic system for approval.

All three methods will require approval by the Lifeline National Verifier.  If the Lifeline National Verifier is unable to electronically validate subscriber eligibility information, additional information may be required.  This information must demonstrate eligibility through participation in one of the qualifying federal assistance programs or through income-based means.

PROGRAM BASED ELIGIBILITY

Consumers are eligible for Lifeline if the, one of their dependents or their household participate in one of the following qualifying assistance programs:

• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Medicaid
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Veteran's Pension and Survivor Benefit

Acceptable documentation of program-based eligibility includes:  current or prior year's statement of benefits from a qualifying state, federal or Tribal program; notice letter of participation in a qualifying state, federal or Tribal program; program participation documents; or another official document evidencing the consumer's participation in a qualifying state, federal or Tribal program.

INCOME-BASED ELIGIBILITY

Consumers are eligible for Lifeline if their household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Acceptable documentation of income eligibility includes: prior year's state, federal or Tribal tax return; current income statement from an employer or paycheck stub; social security statement of benefits; Veterans Administration statement of benefits; retirement/pension statement of benefits; unemployment/workmen's compensation statement of benefits; federal or Tribal notice of letter participating in General Assistance; or a divorce decree or child support award or other official document containing income information.

LIFELINE PROGRAM SERVICE

Laurens Municipal Broadband Communications Utility's Voice Lifeline service includes unlimited local minutes-of-use within the toll free calling area.  Laurens Municipal Broadband Communications Utility's Voice Lifeline does NOT include any free minutes-of-use for toll.  Toll is billed at the standard toll rate depending on which interexchange carrier the consumer subscribes to for toll service.  As part of the Lifeline service, toll blocking is available to eligible consumers at no cost.

BIAS minimum speed and usage allowance standards are required for the service to qualify for the benefit.

RECERTIFICATION OF LIFELINE ELIGIBILITY

Lifeline recipients are required to recertify their eligibility annually with the Lifeline National Verifier.  Failure to properly recertify continued eligibility for the Lifeline program will result in termination of the Lifeline recipient's monthly Lifeline discount and de-enrollment from the Lifeline Program.

ADDITIONAL LIFELINE PROGRAM INFORMATION

The Lifeline program is limited to one benefit per household, consisting of either telephone line or BIAS.  A household is defined, for purposes of the Lifeline program, as an individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address and share income and expenses.  Lifeline is a government benefit program, and consumers who willfully make false statements in order to obtain the benefit can be punished by fines, imprisonment, de-enrollment or can be barred from the program.