Changes to the Lifeline Eligibility Program may disqualify some people who receive assistance for Alaska Power and Telephone internet and phone service.

The federal Lifeline Program gives income-eligible consumers a discount on monthly charges for basic landline or wireless residential telephone service, according to the Universal Service Administrative Co. website. Assistance is limited to one monthly discount per customer.

As of Dec. 2, customers enrolled in the National School Lunch Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Alaska Temporary Assistance Program, Alaska Adult Public Assistance and Denali Kid Care no longer qualify for the Lifeline Program.

“The changes to the Lifeline Program come from the 2016 Federal Communications Commission Lifeline Modernization Order,” said Mary Jo Quandt, AP&T Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs and Customer Service. “The FCC goal is to increase efficiency and improve the program for consumers while reducing waste, fraud and abuse from the program.”

Quandt said the changes have the potential to disqualify about 50 AP&T customers who formerly qualified for the program.

For more information, visit http://www.usac.org/default.aspx.

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