Lifeline Awareness Week

Hi. The following is an important message from Seattle CVM and the FCC about Lifeline, a federal program that provides discounted phone service for low-income people who qualify. This message provides basic information about Lifeline, and gives you one option for finding out more information about the program. As the message says, in the near future we'll send another message with detailed information about the Lifeline program in our state. Thanks!

Hello. My name is Joel Gurin, and I'm the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Chief for the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC. I have an important message for you from the FCC and Community Voice Mail about National Lifeline Awareness Week, which is this week, September 13th-19th.
Millions of people in the United States do not have basic telephone service. This means that they cannot easily communicate with family, friends, employers, schools, and emergency services. There is a program to help low-income consumers pay monthly phone bills, but only about a third of eligible consumers are enrolled. The "Lifeline" program provides a discount on monthly phone bills. The amount of the monthly Lifeline discount depends on where you live. A companion program, "Link-Up," helps with the cost of activating new telephone service. Both landline and wireless companies participate in the Lifeline and Link-Up programs.
If you receive assistance through certain federal programs (for example, Medicaid or Food Stamps) you qualify for Lifeline and Link-Up. You may also qualify based solely on your income.
In most states, you apply for Lifeline and Link-Up directly through a local phone company. In some states, however, you apply through a government office. To find out whether you qualify and how to apply, ask your caseworker or call the Federal Communications Commission at 1-888-CALL-FCC, or 1-888-225-5322. That's 1-888-225-5322This is a toll-free call. When you call, press the "0" key after you select English or Spanish to be connected to an operator.
Your local Community Voice Mail program manager may also send additional information in the near future about specific Lifeline and Link-up options in your area.
Please share this information with your friends and family. No one should be unable to dial for help in an emergency. Thanks for listening!