The Federal Communications Commission and the Oklahoma Corporation Commission have established two programs to make basic telephone service or basic broadband service more affordable to eligible customers. Lifeline Service is a program designed to make basic telephone service or basic broadband service available at reduced rates to eligible residential customers. Customer’s eligibility to receive the discount must be renewed annually. Link-Up is a program designed to offer eligible residential customers a reduction in installation charges for telephone or broadband service.
What benefits are available?
- A discount up to the entire cost of a normal residential phone line service, if on Tribal Land, or $34.25, whichever is less.
- A discount up to $9.25, applied to the cost of a normal residential phone line service, if on non-Tribal land.
- All of our service area in the Carnegie and Alfalfa exchanges in Caddo, Kiowa, and Washita counties is considered Tribal Land for purposes of the Lifeline program.
Terms & Conditions
- You must enroll and qualify for the Lifeline or Link-Up program through the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) and their National Verifier system. This system will process your application and return your qualification status to us.
- You must also not claim your Lifeline/Link-up benefit on any other service, whether phone or internet, through another carrier or cell phone provider.
- Only one person in your household can claim the benefit for your residential address.
- You may only claim a lifeline benefit either for voice service (phone) or for Internet, not both.
- Unlimited local calling is available through the Lifeline program. Toll service is not included. Toll service is defined as a call outside of the local exchange calling area, which includes Carnegie and Alfalfa, OK.
- Additional charges for toll calls are through your chosen long-distance carrier. Rates may vary and are not under the control of Carnegie Telephone Company, Inc. Depending on the carrier you choose as your Primary Interexchange Carrier, or long-distance provider, you may be billed separately or through us.
Who Qualifies?
To be eligible for Enhanced Lifeline you must live on current or former tribal land and participate in at least one of the following programs:
- Supplemental Nurtrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Medical Assistance (Medicaid/SoonerCare)
- Tribal Head Start Programs (only applicant or customer who satisfy the income qualifying eligibility provision)
- Veterans Pension or Survivor’s Pension
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
- Bureau of Indian Affairs general assistance
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) tribally-administered block grant programs
- Food Distribution Program or Indian Reservation (FDPIR); OR,
- If household income is at or less than 135% of the federal poverty level (Customer must provide sufficient proof of income as set forth in 47 CFR §54.400(f))
If you qualify, you can download and print the LifeLine/Link Up form, then call or visit our office for assistance in filling it out. Forms are also available in the Carnegie Telephone Company business office at 25 S Colorado St., Carnegie, OK. Telephone number is 866-471-5891.
Universal Services
What Universal Services are available to all customers?
Universal Services are offered to all customers of Carnegie Telephone Company, Inc. in our regulated exchange areas of Carnegie and Alfalfa, Oklahoma. Universal Services available include:
- Voice grade access to the public switched network
- Unlimited local usage
- Dual tone multi-frequency signaling or its functional equivalent
- Single-party service or its functional equivalent
- Access to emergency services
- Access to operator services
- Access to interexchange services
- Access to directory assistance
- Toll limitation for qualifying low-income consumers
- Unlimited local calling is $22.55 for residential service. This does not include fees, taxes, universal service charges, assessments and surcharges.