Lifeline Program
Universal Service Administrative Company’s (USAC) March Tribal Teleconference will be held in collaboration with the Lifeline team’s First Quarter (Q1) 2023 Tribal Training on March 15, 2023, at 4 p.m. ET. (Register).
The Lifeline program lowers the monthly cost of phone and internet for eligible subscribers.
- Tribal Lands Enhanced Benefit: The Lifeline program offers a monthly benefit of up to $34.25 off phone or internet services for eligible subscribers living on Tribal lands.
- Link Up Reimbursement: Subscribers residing on Tribal lands are eligible for Link Up. Link Up can reimburse the full cost of initiating service with certain phone companies at a primary residence, up to $100. If the cost of initiating service is more than $100, the company will provide a no-interest payment plan for up to $200 for up to one year.
- Tribal Toolkit: The Tribal Toolkit is a compilation of educational resources about the Lifeline program for Tribal consumers. It includes a copy of the Tribal Flyer for subscribers living on Tribal lands and media tools for raising awareness about the Lifeline program.
- Tribal Lands Definition: The definition for “Tribal lands” used by the Lifeline program is found in 47 CFR 54.400(e), which states that “For purposes of this subpart, ‘Tribal lands’ include any federally recognized Indian tribe’s reservation, pueblo, or colony, including former reservations in Oklahoma; Alaska Native regions established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688); Indian allotments; Hawaiian Home Lands – areas held in trust for Native Hawaiians by the state of Hawaii, pursuant to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920 July 9, 1921, 42 Stat. 108, seq., as amended; and any land designated as such by the Commission for purposes of this subpart pursuant to the designation process in § 54.412.”