Lifeline Service Offerings

Lifeline Discounted Service Offering:
The Lifeline Service Program (Lifeline), sponsored by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is a program designed to maintain and preserve universal service by providing a reduction in the price of basic residential exchange service (voice) or broadband internet service to qualifying low-income customers.

Qualifying individuals currently receive a monthly discount of $9.25 for each month they qualify.

You can get a monthly discount of up to $34.25 off the cost of phone, internet, or bundled services if you live on Tribal lands. This discount consists of up to $9.25 (which is available to all eligible Lifeline consumers across the United States) plus up to an additional $25, which is available only to eligible consumers living on Tribal lands.

Eligibility:
Lifeline is restricted to low-income residential customers. To qualify for Lifeline service, a customer must certify and provide documentation as income eligible. For a consumer to be eligible under the income requirements, the consumer’s household income as defined in §54.400(f) of the FCC Rules must be at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for a household of that size or be a recipient of benefits from any one of the following federal programs:
• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) or Section 8;
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps;
• Medicaid;
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI);
• Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension

Customers must notify their service provider within 30 days if they move or they are no longer eligible for Lifeline.

Benefit Port Freeze:
Lifeline customers are required to remain with their service provider for a minimum period of 60 days (voice) or 12 months (broadband internet) before they can switch to a different service provider. During the benefit port freeze, other Lifeline Program providers are forbidden from seeking/receiving Lifeline reimbursement for the customer.
After the benefit port freeze period expires, the customer may continue receiving the Lifeline benefit on a month-to-month basis. If the customer switches their Lifeline benefit to a different provider, another benefit port freeze period begins with the new provider.

Certification:
NMSurf will verify and determine subscriber eligibility and will retain associated eligibility documentation infinitely. NMSurf will annually re-certify eligibility of participants of the Lifeline program in accordance with program requirements.
Federal rules prohibit eligible low-income consumers from receiving more than one Lifeline discount per household. An eligible consumer may receive a discount on either a wireline or wireless service, but not both. A consumer whose household currently is receiving more than one Lifeline service must select a single Lifeline provider and contact the other provider to de-enroll from their program.
If you think you may qualify for this program or would like additional information please contact us at (505) 986-1669 or visit our office located at 1308 Apache Ave., Santa Fe, NM 87505. Additional information on the Lifeline program can also be found at www.lifelinesupport.org