Lifeline and Link-Up Assistance Programs
Through RC Communications and Roberts County Telephone Cooperative Association
Low-Income Assistance Available to Subscribers
Roberts County Telephone Cooperative Association and RC Communications,
Inc., are authorized to provide two federal telephone assistance programs that were
developed in response to concerns about the affordability of telephone service for
low-income citizens.
Who is Eligible?
To be eligible for the Lifeline or the Link-Up programs, the applicant
must participate in at least one of the following public assistance programs to be
eligible:
Food Stamps
Federal Public Housing Assistance
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance
Medicaid
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
To be eligible for the Enhanced Lifeline or the Enhanced Link-Up
programs, the applicant must live on Tribal Land* and participate in at least one of the
following public assistance programs to be eligible:
Food Stamps
Federal Public Housing Assistance
Head Start (meeting income qualifying standards)
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance
Medicaid
National School Lunch Program's FREE Lunch Program
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Tribally administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) General Assistance Program
What Do the Programs Provide?
LIFELINE provides eligible subscribers with a credit of
$8.25 each month on the basic service portion of their telephone bill. LIFELINE
subscribers may also receive blocking of long distance calls on their telephone line at no
charge.
LINK-UP provides eligible subscribers with reduced
installation charges for their basic home telephone service. It does not cover the
cost of wiring inside your home and is limited to one time per home address per
subscriber.
ENHANCED LIFELINE provides eligible subscribers a
reduced basic local residential rate to $1.00 per month. They may also receive long
distance blocking on their telephone at no charge. Eligible subscribers for Enhanced
Lifeline must live on Tribal Land.*
ENHANCED LINK-UP provides eligible subscribers with a
reduction up to $100 of charges for installation for basic home telephone service.
Eligible subscribers for Enhanced Lifeline must live on Tribal Land.*
*Tribal Land for purposes of Enhanced Lifeline and Link-Up Assistance
Programs include the BIA definitions of "reservation". The term
reservation means any federally recognized Indian Tribe's reservation, Pueblo, or Colony,
and Indian Allotments. Questions concerning this requirement should be directed to
your local Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) office.
How Do I Apply?
If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can obtain an application
form at our main telephone office at 205 Main Street in New Effington. You can also
write for an application. The completed form must be returned to Roberts County
Telephone Cooperative Association or RC Communications, Inc., P.O. Box 197, New Effington,
SD 57255-0197.
Could I Become Ineligible?
When you no longer participate in any of the qualifying public assistance
programs, you are no longer eligible for LIFELINE or LINK-UP. You are obligated by
law to notify Roberts County Telephone Cooperative Association or RC Communications, Inc.,
and advise the company that you are no longer eligible for LIFELINE and LINK-UP.
For More Information
If you have questions about LIFELINE or LINK-UP, the application form or
your telephone service, contact Roberts County Telephone Cooperative Association or RC
Communications, Inc., at 605-637-5211 or 888-668-0877 for more information.
