Link-Up/Lifeline Telephone Savings Program

2 Link-Up/Lifeline – What is it? Link-Up – Provides a 50% reduction in telephone service hook- up charge, up to a maximum of $30 Lifeline – provides at least $13.50* credit on qualified residential local monthly phone bills ($162 per year) * $10.00 from Federal Universal Service Fund with balance from the local telephone company

3 Link-up/Lifeline – How to get it? Eligibility Criteria/Administering Agency: Medicaid – DCF Food Stamps - DCF Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) - DCF Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – Social Security Admin Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8) - HUD Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) - DCA National School Lunch Free Lunch * - DOE Income at or below 135% of Federal Poverty Level* - OPC * Only BellSouth, Sprint and Verizon

4 Link-Up/Lifeline – What has been done? 2002 – to Present In 2002 BellSouth Added Income Criteria – 125% of the Federal Poverty level In 2003 Sprint & Verizon at OPCs request adopted criteria 2 years early Media Kick-off – Press Conference – AARP Public service announcements Connect Florida Campaign Participation by industry, FPSC, state legislators, local officials, and AARP Community Outreach & Education State Agency Coordination DCF Lifeline project FPSC Report OPC – Income based eligibility FPSC translation of Lifeline brochures/applications Spanish Creole Braille

5 Link-Up/Lifeline – What has been done? 2002 – to Present FPSC gains voluntary support of agencies, organizations, and businesses regarding outreach Continued Media Events Press conferences Radio and Newspaper publications Simplified Certification Form Added National School Lunch Free Lunch Program 2.6 M brochures to 66 of 67 School districts, including simplified form Increased Income Criteria to 135% FPSC produced CD that includes: Lifeline brochures and applications in English, Spanish, Creole OPCs application in English and Spanish Lifeline posters in English, Spanish, and Creole The Annual Lifeline Report to the Governor and Legislators Listing of Florida telephone companies providing Lifeline/Link-Up and contact numbers Form to request additional copies of PSC publications Frequently asked questions regarding Lifeline/Link-Up

6 Lifeline/Link-UP – What are Short Term Plans? Linking Solutions - Target Agency for Work Force Innovation Goal – facilitate distribution of self certification forms at point of contact

7 Link-Up/Lifeline – What are future plans? Implement F.S (3)(b) & (h) Work with Agencies to Distribute Lifeline Application Forms (364.10(3)(b)) Pursue DOE Plan (per (3) (h)) Pilot Project - Target Counties with largest student population to disseminate brochures/forms; do awareness events Placement on agenda of School Superintendents and Food Directors Annual Meeting Continue Grassroots Efforts

8 Link-Up/Lifeline – What is needed from agencies? Simple and Effective Partnership: Short Term –Distribute Forms at Point of Contact Explore expansion to Agencies (initially DCF) collecting forms, sending to distribution point (FPSC?) FPSC to sort and send to local company Limited Trial – Companies to provide prepaid-stamped forms, end user send directly to local company Long Term – Explore integrating Lifeline enrollment in any future Agencys One Stop process Agencies enroll clients at point of contact and send form electronically directly to local company

9 Link-Up/Lifeline – What does agency need? Distribution of Application Forms Provide forms to regional offices Industry Provided Training Initial training and materials for agents Ongoing training efforts Provide Q&A for clients

10 Link-Up/Lifeline - Questions