Nebraska Administrative Code
Topic - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
Title 291 - NEBRASKA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
Chapter 10 - NEBRASKA UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND RULES AND REGULATIONS
Section 291-10-006 - NEBRASKA TELEPHONE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (NTAP)

Universal Citation: 291 NE Admin Rules and Regs ch 10 ยง 006

Current through March 20, 2024

006.01 General:

006.01A NTAP Number: NTAP Number shall mean the numeral assigned to an NTAP applicant filed by the Department.

006.01B NTAP Number Requirement: A telecommunications company shall only provide Lifeline and Linkup discounts to those users that have an assigned NTAP Number.

006.01C Monthly Reporting: A telecommunications company offering discounts shall report to the Department on a monthly basis information regarding Lifeline discount recipients in the manner set forth by the Department.

006.01D Audit Requirements: Any company receiving NTAP support shall comply with any audit requirements set forth by the Commission .

006.02 Lifeline Service Program:

006.02A Defined: Lifeline service shall mean the offering of a recurring service defined by Commission Order, at a reduced rate to qualifying users.

006.02B Reduction in Rates: Telecommunications companies that offer Lifeline service shall offer such service at the reduced rates specified by Order of the Commission.
006.02B1 Companies that offer Lifeline service shall apply any appropriate credits for a qualifying user in accordance with the eligibility date as provided by the Department.

006.02B2 Companies that offer Lifeline service shall apply any appropriate credits or removal of credits onto the user's account within sixty (60) days of receiving notice from the Department.

006.02B3 Qualifying users may receive the Lifeline credit on only the primary residential line per household.

006.02C Requirement to Offer Service: In cases where a qualifying user has a past due balance, a telecommunications company shall provide Lifeline services to that user as long as said user is making monthly payments towards any past due amounts.

006.02D Limitation/Blocking Service: Telecommunications companies that offer Lifeline service shall offer such service(s), if service is available, to all qualifying users at the time such persons subscribe to Lifeline service.
006.02D1 Companies that offer limitation/blocking service shall not charge Lifeline users for receiving said service if reasonable reimbursement is available as defined by Commission Order.

006.02E Service Deposits: Telecommunications companies that offer Lifeline service shall not collect a service deposit to initiate Lifeline service, if the qualifying user voluntarily elects toll blocking from the company, if available.
006.02E1 If toll blocking is unavailable, the telecommunications company may collect a service deposit.

006.02E2 If a qualifying user has a past due amount, the telecommunications company may not collect a service deposit if the user is making reasonable monthly payments towards any past due amounts.

006.02F Disconnection
006.02F1 Telecommunications companies that offer Lifeline service shall not disconnect a qualifying user for non-payment of charges not directly a part of the Lifeline service if limitation/blocking services are available, unless granted a written waiver by the Commission for a specific user.
006.02F1a Upon reasonable notice, a telecommunications company may block a qualifying user's access to toll services and other services not directly a part of the Lifeline service, for non-payment.

006.02F2 Telecommunications companies that offer Lifeline service shall not disconnect a qualifying user for non-payment until 60 days after all Lifeline and Link-Up credits due for a particular billing period have been fully applied to any billed amounts for which the qualifying user has not made full and complete payment.

006.02F3 In cases where a qualifying user has been disconnected for more than six (6) months, a telecommunications company shall obtain verification of continued eligibility from the Department before reapplying the Lifeline service to the qualifying user's account.
006.02F3A A qualifying user shall be considered disconnected if said user is not receiving Lifeline service from any company that offers Lifeline service.

006.03 Link-Up Program:

006.03A Defined: Link-Up service shall mean a reduction in the telecommunications company's customary charge for commencing Lifeline service for a single connection at a user's principal place of residence.

006.03B Reduction: The Link-Up reduction shall be either half of the amount of connection charges or thirty dollars ($30), whichever is less.

006.03C Deferred Payment Schedule: A telecommunications company that offers Link-Up service shall offer a deferred schedule of payment for connection charges, for which the user does not pay interest. Charges of up to two hundred dollars ($200) may be deferred for a period not to exceed one year,

006.03D Qualifying users may receive the Link-Up credit on only the primary residential line per household.

006.03E Subsequent Benefits: Telecommunications companies that offer Link-Up service shall allow a user to receive the benefit of the Link-Up program for a second or subsequent time only for a principal place of residence with an address different from the residence at which the Link-Up assistance was previously provided.

006.04 Qualifications:

006.04A Programs: To qualify for the Lifeline and/or Link-Up programs, a user shall be eligible to receive aid from at least one of the following
(1) Medicaid;

(2) Food Stamps;

(3) Supplemental Security Income (SSI);

(4) Federal Public Housing Assistance;

(5) Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program ("LIHEAP); or

(6) Children's Health Insurance Programs (SAM, MAC, E-MAC, and Kids Connection), as the financially responsible adult.

006.04A1 The Comission may, on an interim basis, designate additional low-income eligibility criteria by order until such time as a rulemaking can be completed.

006.04B User Name: The user that receives aid from a program listed in Rule 006.04A shall have his or her name on the account with the telecommunications company in order to qualify to receive support from the Lifeline and/or Link-Up programs , unless granted a waiver by the Commission for a specific user.

006.05 Requirements to Offer:

006.05A All NETCs designated by the Commission for the purposes of receiving support from the NUSF shall be required to offer Lifeline and Link-Up services to qualifying users.

006.05B The Commission may, at its discretion require, upon notice and hearing, a telecommunications company to provide Lifeline and Link-Up services to qualifying users.

006.06 Reporting Requirements:

006.06A In cases where the Department requests information regarding a qualifying user's account, the company providing service shall provide all information requested by the Department.
006.06A1 The Department shall treat all user account information provided by the company as confidential to the extent required or authorized by state or federal law.

006.06B Any telecommunications company shall comply with all reporting requirements of the Commission.
006.06B1 Telecommunications companies shall comply with reporting requirements in the manner prescribed by the Department.

006.07 Directory:

Telecommunications companies that offer NTAP and telephone directory services shall provide printed information describing such programs in telephone directories.

006.07A Required Information: The information listed in telephone directories shall contain information on the following
(1) Voluntary toll blocking; and

(2) Availability of reduced deposits.

006.07B Directory Index: If the telephone directory provided by a telecommunications company that offers Lifeline and/or Link-Up services contains an index, a reference to the information regarding such services shall be listed in the index.

006.08 Advertising:

Telecommunications companies that offer NTAP services shall advertise the availability of such services through a bill insert or prominent bill message on an annual basis.

006.09 Notification:

Telecommunications companies that offer Lifeline service shall inform all qualifying users at the time said persons subscribe to Lifeline service that credits due may not appear on their initial bills and that service will only be disconnected in accordance with Rule 006.02F.

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