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State Regulators Declare "Lifeline Awareness Week"

WASHINGTON—State public service commissions all across the country today are launching an unprecedented public-relations effort to increase participation in telephone assistance programs.

From coast to coast, State commissions are holding educational sessions, issuing media notices, and notifying governors and State legislatures about the first-ever National Telephone Discount Lifeline Awareness Week, being held this year from Sept. 14-20. The event is being organized by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, the Washington-based association that represents State utility regulators, the Federal Communications Commission, and the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates.

"This first-ever National Telephone Discount Lifeline Awareness Week is truly a hallmark event," said NARUC President Frederick Butler. "We are breaking down the silos between State and federal agencies in order to better serve our constituents. Through this effort, we hope to bring as many qualified consumers as possible on board—no one should be without telephone service in this day and age."

"I want to thank my State and federal regulatory colleagues across the country for stepping up and putting forth such a dedicated effort," Butler added.

Stemming from a resolution passed at the NARUC Summer Committee Meetings in July, National Telephone Discount Lifeline Awareness Week seeks to raise awareness among qualified consumers about the Lifeline and Link-Up telephone assistance programs. Lifeline provides a discount on monthly phone bills, while Link-Up offers a discount on installation of telephone services in homes. These programs are administered at the State and federal level.

Recent statistics demonstrate that not enough qualified consumers take advantage of, or even know about, these crucial programs. In fact, according to the Universal Service Administrative Company, only five States have participation rates above 50%; the majority of States have participation rates at 20% or below.

"As these statistics show, we must reach out to as many qualified consumers as possible and raise the awareness of these important programs," said NARUC Consumer Affairs Committee Chairman Anne Boyle of Nebraska. "All citizens of this country should have access to affordable telephone service, and we hope this week will result in an increase in participation levels in Lifeline and Link-Up."

During National Telephone Discount Lifeline Awareness Week, public service commissions throughout the country will hold public events to increase consumer awareness of the programs and sign up as many qualified consumers as possible.

The California Public Utilities Commission, for example, is holding numerous public events during the week, as will the public service commissions in Florida, Washington, South Dakota, Mississippi, New York, and many more. In addition, State commissions in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, New Mexico, Kentucky, Kansas, and elsewhere received gubernatorial proclamations recognizing National Telephone Discount Lifeline Awareness Week.

"In this highly interconnected world, providing all Americans having affordable telephone access is absolutely essential," said NARUC Telecommunications Committee Chair Ray Baum of Oregon. "As we seek to expand the use of broadband and other telecommunications technologies, we also must remember that we can't leave anyone behind."

For additional information about National Telephone Discount Lifeline Awareness Week, please visit the NARUC Website at: (www.naruc.org/lifeline/default.cfm). For more information about the Lifeline and Link-Up programs, please visit www.lifeline.gov.

NARUC is a non-profit organization founded in 1889 whose members include the governmental agencies that are engaged in the regulation of utilities and carriers in the fifty States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. NARUC's member agencies regulate telecommunications, energy, and water utilities. NARUC represents the interests of State public utility commissions before the three branches of the Federal government.