News release [Sept. 9, 2010]

Contact: Bill Edge Phone 404-656-2316 www.psc.state.ga.us

Georgia Public Service Commission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWS RELEASE

244 Washington St S.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Phone: 404-656-4501 Toll free: 1-800-282-5813 (outside metro Atlanta)
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Commission Kicks off Lifeline/Linkup Awareness Week in Georgia

ATLANTA, September 9, 2010 The Georgia Public Service Commission today kicked off Lifeline Link-Up Awareness Week in Georgia, September 12-18, 2010, during a news conference at the H.J.C. Bowden Senior Multipurpose Center in East Point, Georgia. Commission Chairman Lauren "Bubba" McDonald, Jr. along with Commissioner H. Doug Everett announced the beginning of a week long effort to make more Georgians aware of this tremendous benefit.
Lifeline provides a monthly credit of up to $10 off your monthly local service telephone bill (AT&T gives a $13.50 monthly credit) while Link-Up assists with paying up to 50% of installation costs, not to exceed $30 (AT&T pays 100% of installation costs). Lifeline also covers cellular telephones.
"We want to get the word out during Lifeline Link-Up Awareness Week about this valuable benefit which can save qualified telephone customers hundreds of dollars yet keep them connected to the telephone network," said McDonald, "As valuable as this benefit is, we know there are thousands of Georgians who are not taking advantage of it."
As of December 31, 2009, there are 128,259 Georgians who are receiving this credit. While this number represents a dramatic 43 percent increase over the past three years, there are thousands more who could qualify but are not signed up. In fact, as many as one million Georgians may be eligible.
In order to qualify for these programs, a consumer must be a participant in any one of the following programs: Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TNAF), Food Stamps, senior citizens discount from power or gas company, SSI, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or LowIncome Home Energy Assistance Program.
Other Lifeline Link-Up Awareness Week participants taking part in today's announcement were AT&T-Georgia, Atlanta Regional Commission, Georgia Telephone Association and Windstream Georgia.
Eligible consumers should contact their prospective or current telephone service provider to find out if they offer Lifeline/Link-up credits and if so, to file an application to receive Lifeline or Link-Up

assistance. Consumers may apply the discount towards either their home phone or cell phone service. Lifeline/Linkup Week is also a joint effort of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissions (NARUC), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Association of State Utility Consumer Affairs (NASUCA.) For more information, visit the Commission web site at www.psc.state.ga.us.
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