Notifications
- LIFELINE LINK UP NOTICE
Lifeline, Link Up is a government program http://www.kcc.state.ks.us/pi/lifeline.htm that offers discounts to eligible low income households to help establish & maintain telephone service. Lifeline assistance lowers the cost of basic, monthly local telephone service. Eligible consumers can receive up to a $17.77/month discount on their monthly phone bill.
How do I know if I am eligible?
An individual is eligible if he/she participates in one of these programs. LIHEAP, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Medicaid, Food Stamps, SSI, TANF or National School Lunch Program's Free Lunch program. In addition a consumer may be eligible if their income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines. The name on the phone bill must match the name of the household member participating on the eligible program with the exception of the National School Lunch Free Program.
How do I apply?
To apply for Lifeline visit our office or call 620-429-3132. An application will need to be completed and verification of eligibility provided at the time you apply.
What proof of eligibility do I need to provide?
You will be asked for proof of your eligibility by submitting a form signed under penalty of perjury that you receive benefits from or a copy of any dated document which verifies your participation in one of the qualifying programs listed above. Proof of total household income may be required for income based qualification. Your Lifeline benefits will take effect when proof of eligibility is received.
How do I continue to receive Lifeline benefits?
Eligibility is renewed every 12 months. Your benefits will be discontinued when you no longer meet the eligibility requirements or when proof of eligibility is not received. Customers who are no longer eligible for Lifeline benefits must notify their service provider. Columbus Telephone Co. does not notify its participants when your discount is expired.
Other useful information
There are other options that can help you save money, including free toll blocking.
Link Up helps households reduce the cost of initiating telephone service. This program pays some of the cost of connecting local telephone service to your home. Link Up will pay 50% of your connection charges for a total discount of $6.50. If you qualify for Lifeline, you also qualify for Link Up. Link Up can only be used for activating a primary telephone line. Charges related to wiring and telephone jacks within your home are not eligible for the Link Up discount.
Being a Lifeline or Link Up customer does protect you from being disconnected if you fail to pay your telephone bill.
Lifeline and Link Up discounts cannot be applied to an outstanding balance owed to your phone company.
Lifeline can only be applied to one telephone per household.
- What is the "do not call" registry and how do I get on it?
Federal Residential Customer Do-Not-Call Notification
To address consumer concerns about unwelcome telemarketing calls, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have established a national Do-Not-Call Registry. The registry applies to all telemarketers (with the exception of certain non-profit and political organizations) and covers both interstate and intrastate telemarketing calls. Commercial telemarketers are not allowed to call you if your number is listed on the registry.
You can register your phone number for free, and it will remain on the national Do-Not-Call Registry for five years. You may re-enter your number onto the list when the five years have passed, and you may remove your name from the list at any time. The Do-Not-Call Registry will not prevent all unwanted calls. It does not cover the following:
- calls from organizations with which you have established a business relationship;
- calls for which you have given prior written consent;
- calls which are not commercial or do not include unsolicited advertisements;
- calls by or on behalf of tax-exempt non-profit organizations.
Consumers may register their residential telephone number, including wireless numbers, on the national Do-Not-Call Registry at no cost by telephone or on the Internet. To register by telephone, consumers may call 1-888-382-1222. For TTY call 1-866-290-4236. You must call from the phone number you wish to register. You may also register by Internet at www.donotcall.gov. Inclusion of your telephone number on the national Do-Not-Call Registry will be effective thirty-one days following your registration.
