Kennebec Telephone Company, Inc., is 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.

• The Lifeline program provides reduced monthly charges to telephone subscribers who qualify
• The Link Up program provides reduced connection charges to telephone subscribers who qualify

Subscribers must have household income that is at or below 135 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or must participate in at least one of the following public assistance programs to be eligible:

     Medicaid (e.g. Title XIX/Medical, State Supplemental Assistance)
     Low Income Home Energy Assistance
     Food Stamps Programs
     Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
     Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
     National School Lunch (NSL) Free Lunch Program
     Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF) Program

Lifeline provides eligible subscribers with a waiver of the $6.50 monthly Subscriber Line Charge and an additional credit of $1.75 each month on the basic service portion of the telephone bill. The waiver and credit apply on the main home telephone line listed in the name of the eligible telephone company subscriber. Lifeline subscribers also may receive blocking of long distance calling on their telephone line at no charge.

Link Up provides eligible subscribers with reduced connection charges for their basic home telephone service. This reduction is 50 percent of applicable charges or $30.00, whichever is less. Link Up also provides for deferred payment of connection charges without interest. It does not cover the cost of wiring inside the home and is limited to one time per home address per subscriber.

Additional Lifeline and Link Up support is available to those qualifying individuals living on Tribal Lands. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) can verify whether or not your residence is on Tribal Lands. Enhanced Lifeline/Link Up provides for expanded eligibility requirements and additional telephone service discounts. In addition to the previously cited programs, for those individuals residing on Tribal Lands, participation in any of the following meets the eligibility standard:

Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) General Assistance Program

If you meet the eligibility requirements, you must completely fill out and sign an application form. In addition, if you qualify because your household income is at or below 135 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, documentation is required. More details on this documentation requirement and application forms are available at our office at: Kennebec Telephone Company, Inc.,; 220 S Main Street; PO Box 158; Kennebec, SD 57544.