Can’t Afford Phone or Internet Service?
MADISON, Wis. (PRWEB) May 23, 2017 -- All Americans should have an opportunity to enjoy phone and internet service, but some simply cannot afford these services. Local phone companies, including TDS Telecom (TDS®), offer Lifeline and Tribal Link-Up. They are government assistance programs designed to make phone and internet service affordable for income-eligible customers.
Lifeline provides monthly credits for basic phone and qualifying broadband services. Tribal Link-Up offers phone and qualifying broadband discounts for people living on tribal land. Qualifications for the programs may vary by state; however, they are typically available to most people who receive federal assistance.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 43.1 million Americans living in poverty in 2015. While the overall median household income in the U.S. rose (it’s the first time since 2007), there are many families and individuals who still rely on the Lifeline and Tribal Link-Up programs to stay connected.
“Having access to telephone and broadband service should not be a struggle,” says Kevin Hess, executive vice president of Government and Regulatory Affairs for TDS. “Americans should not have to choose between feeding their family and providing a phone number on a job application. We make Lifeline and Tribal Link-up available to our customers so they don’t have to choose. Plus, it allows them to stay in touch with family, employers, and, should they need it, emergency services.”
TDS receives support for these programs from the Universal Service Fund program. Lifeline is a non-transferable government assistance program. Only eligible consumers may enroll in the program and only one discount is available per household. All participants must renew their Lifeline benefits annually.
For more information, to check on eligibility or to request an application visit tdstelecom.com/about/lifeline or call 888-CALL-TDS. If you know someone who’s struggling to afford their communications services, encourage them to contact their local phone company for information.
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TDS Telecommunications Corporation (TDS Telecom/TDS®), a wholly owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., is the seventh largest local exchange telephone company in the U.S. and a growing force in the cable industry. TDS provides 1.2 million connections to high-speed internet, phone, and TV entertainment services in nearly 900 rural, suburban, and metropolitan communities. For residential customers, TDS deploys up to 1Gig internet access, IPTV service, cable TV options, and traditional wireline services. The company offers businesses advanced solutions, including: VoIP (managedIP Hosted voice), high-speed internet, fiber optics, data networking, and hosted-managed services. Visit tdstelecom.com or tdsbusiness.com.
Headquartered in Madison, Wis., TDS Telecom operates OneNeck IT Solutions LLC and BendBroadband, which is part of TDS Broadband Service LLC. Combined, the company employs more than 3,400 people.
Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. [NYSE: TDS], a Fortune 500® company, provides wireless; cable and wireline broadband, TV and voice; and hosted and managed services to approximately six million customers nationwide through its businesses U.S. Cellular, TDS Telecom, OneNeck IT Solutions LLC, and TDS Broadband Service LLC. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. employs 10,300 people. Visit tdsinc.com.
Cindy Tomlinson, TDS Telecom, http://www.tdstelecom.com, +1 (608) 664-4471, [email protected]
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