Skyline Telecom Lifeline Terms and Conditions

Line 1210-Terms and Conditions

GENERAL

Lifeline is a federally funded reduction of basic local residential voice and broadband service. The Federal credit amount (CR) provided to Lifeline subscribers will not exceed the maximum amount authorized by the FCC of $9.25. If a customer subscribes to voice only, the maximum federal credit is $7.25. In addition, there is a State Lifeline Credit.

RATES

Baseline Lifeline is a reduction or credit in the local service charges normally paid by qualifying low-income consumers. The reduction to the normal residential one-party rates are as follows:

Broadband Only Subscriptions

No Federal Lifeline reductions will be given for broadband-only subscriptions less than 20 Mbps/3 Mbps. In areas where speeds at or above 20 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload are unavailable, the highest performing speed of at least 4 Mbps/1 Mbps will be provided with the ($9.25) Lifeline discount.

Broadband and Voice Subscriptions

Lifeline customers subscribing to broadband-voice plans of at least 20 Mbps/3 Mbps (or below broadband speeds of 20 Mbps/3 Mbps if 20 Mbps/3 Mbps is not available and the customer subscribes to the highest speed available of at least 4 Mbps/1Mbps) will receive Lifeline Service credit on local telephone service of $9.25 and the state of $3.50. ($12.75 total deduction).

Residential Access Lines, Monthly Credit or Discount

Federal Baseline Lifeline Reduction: Federal Subscriber Line Deduction of $7.25. State Matching Local Rate Reduction $3.50. ($10.75 total deduction).

These reductions or credits are from the normal residential one-party service subscribed to by the consumer. The Federal baseline lifeline reduction shall be used to waive the consumer's Federal End-User Common Line Charge or Subscriber Line Charge. The Company's voice lifeline plan includes unlimited local minutes-of-use within the toll-free calling area. The Company’s voice Lifeline plan does not include any free minutes-of- use for toll unless a “Bundled Minutes” package is chosen.

In no case will the discount exceed the rate charged for the service subscribed to by each individual.

The following services are included:

  1. Single party, voice grade access to the Public Switched Network
  2. Access to emergency services
  3. Access to operator services
  4. Access to interexchange services, unless toll blocking is chosen
  5. Access to directory assistance
  6. Toll Blocking
TRIBAL LIFELINE

Tribal Lifeline will consist of up to an additional $25.00 per month, per primary residential connection for qualifying low-income individuals living on a qualifying tribal land.

Tribal Lifeline benefits apply to the primary local residential access line. This additional federal Lifeline support will be provided to reduce the qualifying customer’s basic monthly service rate to $1.00 per month. The Company’s voice Lifeline plan includes unlimited local minutes-of-use within the toll-free calling area. The Company’s voice Lifeline plan does not include any free minutes-of-use for toll unless a “bundled minutes” package is chosen.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

An applicant must meet all the following criteria in order to qualify for Lifeline Service:

  1. The consumer must meet eligibility requirements established in the Public Service Commission of Utah Rules R746-341.
  2. To qualify for Lifeline the consumer must participate in one of the following programs:
    1. Medicaid
    2. Food stamps
    3. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
    4. Federal public housing assistance
    5. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
  3. The customer must be recertified annually by the appropriate state agency.
  4. The premises at which the residential service is requested is the applicant's principal place of residence.
  5. There is only one telephone line serving the residential premises eligible for the credit. The residential premises shall consist of that portion of an individual house or building or one flat or apartment occupied by a single family or individuals functioning as one domestic unit.

Tribal Lifeline Eligibility Requirements

Residents of tribal lands who qualify for Lifeline based on the requirements listed below are eligible for the Tribal Lifeline benefit if they participate in one of more of the following programs or meet the traditional lifeline eligibility requirements listed above.

  1. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) general assistance program,
  2. Tribally administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant program,
  3. Head Start programs (only those meeting its income-qualifying standard),
  4. National School Lunch Program's free lunch program.

The customer must sign, under penalty of perjury, a document certifying that such customer receives benefits from at least one of the programs above, and lives within a qualifying area. In addition, the customer must also agree to notify the Company if that customer ceases to participate in the qualifying program or programs.

Lifeline will not be furnished on a Foreign Exchange (FEX) basis.

Lifeline service shall not be disconnected for non-payment of toll charges.

If the consumer chooses "toll blocking", the company will not charge a service deposit. Deposits will not be required if customers choose the toll blocking option. No toll blocking charges will be assessed to Lifeline subscribers.

FUNDING

The total cost of providing the State Lifeline program shall be funded from the Utah Universal Service Fund.

REGULATIONS

The Telephone Assistance Program credit will begin with the next billing cycle of the company following the date the Company receives a valid application from the customer or when new service is established for a qualifying customer.

The regular service connection charge, move and change charge, and regulations applicable to the service offerings specified in the tariff will apply. The service connection charge and move and change charge to change to or from this program due to eligibility status will be waived.

The Lifeline credit will be subject to the following restrictions:

Applicant must be head of household or person whose name the property or rental agreement resides.

Lifeline credit will only be provided to the applicant's principle residence.

The credit will only be applicable for one single residential access line.

The Company will offer Lifeline assistance only during such periods as reimbursement of the discount is available to the Company from Federal and/or State revenue sources.