Linkup America Telephone Assitance Program
The Lifeline Program and the Link-Up America Program Help Pay Your Phone Bill
The FCC's Link Up America Assistance Program lowers the cost of getting hooked up to your local telephone company. This program is administered by the Universal Service Administration Company and uses monies collected from the Universal Service Fund Fee to subsidize low income individuals and families for up to 50% of the cost of putting in telephone service.
It should be noted that Link-Up America is also available for wireless phone service; if you choose that instead of a wired phone. The same benefits and restrictions apply as they do for regular wired phone service.
Link-Up America & Lifeline Program Contact Information By State
UniversalService.org
UniversalService.org is run by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). While the USAC does maintain a list of federal requirements for the Link-Up America program, they do not maintain an accurate list of state programs. Below is a list of websites that contain information on each state's link-up program. A few of the state's below do not have their own Link Up America type programs. If you live in one of those states, please just see the federal requirements at UniversalService.org.
Alabama Public
Service Commission Telecommunications Division
Regulatory Commission of
Alaska
Arizona Telecommunications Financial Aid
Arkansas Public
Service Commission: Telecommunications
California Lifeline Telephone Service
Colorado Public
Utilities Commission Special Programs
Connecticut Department of
Public Utility Control
Delaware Public Service
Commission
District of Columbia Utility Discount Programs
Florida's Link-Up Florida Service
Georgia Utility Assistance Programs
Hawaii
Public Utilities Commission
Idaho Public Utilities
Commission
Illinois Universal Telephone Service Assistance Programs (PDF Format)
Indiana Utility
Regulatory Commission: Communications
Iowa Low Income Telephone Assistance Forms (PDF Format)
Kansas Lifeline Program
Kentucky Low Income Service Programs (PDF Format)
Louisiana Public Service
Commission
Maine Public Utilities
Commission
Maryland Public
Service Commission: Telecommunications
Massachusetts Department
of Telecommunications and Energy
Michigan Link-Up America Telephone Assistance Program
Minnesota Telephone Assistance Programs
Mississippi Public Service
Commission
Missouri Link-Up Brochure (PDF Format)
Montana Public
Service Commission
Nebraska Telephone Assistance programs
Nevada
Public Utilities Commission
New Hampshire Telephone Assistance Programs
New Jersey Board of Public
Utilities
New Mexico Public
Regulation Commission
New York Telephone Service Options
North Carolina Consumer Information
North Dakota Link-up America information (PDF Format)
North Dakota Tribal Lands Link-up America Plan (PDF Format)
Ohio Link-Up America Program (PDF Format)
Oklahoma Link-Up America Telephone Assistance Programs
Oregon Public Assistance Programs
Pennsylvania Public Utility
Commission
Puerto Rico
Telecommunications Regulatory Board
Rhode Island Division of
Public Utilities and Carriers and the Public Utilities
Commission
South Carolina Link Up Program
South Dakota Telephone Assistance Programs (PDF Format)
Tennessee Telephone Assistance Programs
Texas Low Income Assistance Programs
Utah Telephone Assistance Program
Vermont Link-Up Application and Information (PDF Format)
Virginia State Corporation
Commission
Washington Telephone Assistance Program
West Virginia Utility Bill Payment Assistance
West Virginia Tel-Assistance & Link-Up America
Wyoming Telephone Assistance Program (PDF Format)
Wisconsin Linkup America Program (PDF Format)
Telecom Agents News Feed