04 NCAC 11 R09-06. LINK-UP CAROLINA CONNECTION FEE SUBSIDY PROGRAM.

(a)  Name. — The name of this program is Link-Up Carolina (hereinafter LUC). LUC is designed to qualify for funds under the connection fee subsidy program known as Link-Up America, outlined in FCC 87-133 (CC Docket Nos. 78-72 and 80-286, adopted April 16, 1987).

(b)  Obligations of local exchange companies. — All local exchange companies regulated by the Utilities Commission in this State shall provide LUC on such terms as are set out in subsection (c), (d), and (e), and in the Orders of the North Carolina Utilities Commission. All regulated local exchange companies shall submit such information to the North Carolina Utilities Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, and the National Exchange Carriers Association as is necessary to fully implement LUC.

(c)  Description of program. — For the purpose of this Rule:

(1)           LUC shall describe the following connection assistance program for eligible subscribers as defined in (c)(2):

(a)           a reduction in charges for commencing phone service assessed for a single telephone line per household at the principal place of residence of a qualified subscriber of 50% of the charges for commencement of the same service applicable to non eligible customers or $30.00, whichever is less; and

(b)           a deferred schedule for payment of the charges assessed for commencing service, for which the local exchange company does not charge interest to a subscriber.

(2)           In order to be eligible for assistance, a residential subscriber must be a consumer with household income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or a residential subscriber must be a current recipient of: Medicaid; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps; Supplemental Security Income (SSI); Federal Public Housing Assistance Section 8); Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); National School Lunch Program’s free lunch program; Tribally-administered TANF; Head Start (only those households meeting its income-qualifying standards); or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).

(d)  Verification. — The method for verification of the eligibility criteria set forth in (c)(2) shall be self-certification by the recipients of the eligible programs.

(e)  Charges included. — Charges assessed for commencing telephone service include any state tariffed charges levied for connecting a subscriber to the network. These charges do not include a security deposit requirement.

(f)  Pursuant to federal regulations, the LUC connection fee subsidy program is only available to residents of Tribal lands subscribing to service from an eligible telecommunications carrier that is receiving high-cost support.

 

(NCUC Docket No. P 100, Sub 95, 9/30/87; 4/4/89; NCUC Docket No. P-100, Sub 133f, 12/23/97; 2/3/98; 6/1/98; 07/27/99; NCUC Docket No. P-100, Sub 133f, 3/2/10; NCUC Docket No. P-100, Sub 133f, 5/03/12; NCUC Docket No. P-100, Sub 133f, 6/25/12.)