FPSC Promotes Phone Savings During Lifeline Awareness Week Kick Off

The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) wants Florida to “stay connected” and is reaching out to those who need phone service but can’t afford it. During its first annual “Lifeline Awareness Week,” September 8-13, the PSC will promote the Link-Up Florida and Lifeline Assistance Programs which offer discounts to help residents have access to basic local telephone service.

{sidebar id=1}Under the federal Lifeline program, telephone customers who participate in certain public assistance programs are entitled to receive a basic telephone service discount of at least $13.50 per month – or more than $160 per year. Link-Up Florida provides a 50% reduction in the telephone service installation charge, up to a maximum of $30, for qualifying households that do not currently have telephone service.

The PSC will join with the Office of Public Counsel and Florida’s telephone companies to sign up eligible consumers at events throughout the state.

PSC outreach staff will partner with the Tallahassee Housing Authority for a Lifeline Awareness event at the following time and location:

Monday, September 8, 2008
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Lifeline Awareness Week Kick Off featuring PSC Chairman Matthew M. Carter II
Tallahassee Housing Authority
Springfield Community Center
1702 Joe Louis Street
Tallahassee, Florida

The Chairman’s Lifeline Awareness public service announcement is available at: http://www.psc.state.fl.us/utilities/telecomm/lifeline/ .

The PSC is committed to making sure that Florida's consumers receive their electric, natural gas, telephone, water, and wastewater services in a safe, affordable, and reliable manner. The PSC exercises regulatory authority over utilities in the areas of rate base/economic regulation; competitive market oversight; and monitoring of safety, reliability, and service.

For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.

This information originally published on September 7, 2008.

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