Those eligible for or are on any type of public assistance can get help paying telephone bills through the Lifeline program, the Public Services Commission announced this week as it unveiled Lifeline Awareness Week. The Link-Up program can also help with phone bills.
"I don’t think enough people know about the program," Innovative Telephone spokesman Janette Millin said.
PSC spokesman Lorna Nichols said the PSC plans to hold an outreach program about the Lifeline program from 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday at the Human Services Department office on St. Thomas. On St. Croix, the PSC will be at the Innovative Building from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday.
According to a press release from the PSC, the program helps people stay connected to emergency services and can possibly save lives.
The Lifeline program provides a discount on basic telephone service of at least $10 per month. Link-Up provides a 50 percent reduction in the telephone service installation charge, up to a maximum of $30, for qualifying households that do not currently have telephone service.
According to Millin, a person who qualifies for the program will currently pay $11.10 a month for basic telephone services. That fee does not include extras like call waiting.
Millin said the program currently serves 500 to 600 customers across the territory.
The Lifeline program is a national program under the umbrella of the Federal Communications Commission that serves people who live in rural areas.
To apply, people must go to the Human Services office. According to Millin, they must be the head of household and be certified to participate by Human Services.
For more information, call Human Services at 774-0930, the PSC at 776-1291 or Innovative at 779-9999.
