Lifeline Telephone Assistance Program

The Lifeline program is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company, or USAC. USAC can help you understand the eligibility requirements, apply for the program, and then keep your benefit current through an annual recertification process. Learn more on the USAC website.

The Lifeline Program provides up to a $9.25 monthly discount on service for eligible low-income consumers. You may receive the Lifeline discount on either a wireline or a wireless service, but you cannot have a discount on both services at the same time. Lifeline also supports broadband Internet service and broadband-voice bundles. Federal Communication Commission rules prohibit more than one Lifeline service per household.

To participate in the Lifeline program, you must either have an income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participate in certain federal assistance programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Supplemental Security Income, or the Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit. To see if you are eligible, visit lifelinesupport.org.

Not all phone providers participate in the federal Lifeline program.  If you qualify for Lifeline, please contact your telecommunications provider to see if the Lifeline program is available to you. The wireline telecommunications providers listed below all participate in the program.

• Bretton Woods Telephone Company
• Consolidated Communications (includes Northland Telephone Company)
• Dunbarton Telephone Company
• Granite State Communications
• TDS Telecom (includes Hollis Telephone Company, Kearsage Telephone Company, Merrimack County Telephone Company, Union Telephone Company and Wilton Telephone Company)

More information about this program is available through the FCC and the Universal Service Administrative Company.