Telehealth Webinar for Community Based Organizations Series FAQs

Part 3: Addressing Barriers - Homelessness and Connectivity

1. What providers are providing the Lifeline benefit? AT&T, Verizon, etc?


2. If a person is homeless, meaning no address, how do you send a paper form and will you provide internet via a hotspot?


3. Do you have any special programs for urban First Nations? Urban First Nation means, in urban city, not tribal lands.


4. Is anything being done to increase the benefit amount (proving more than the (roughly $9) for non-tribal individuals, given that internet and/or phone is critical to access particularly during the COVID pandemic? Wouldn't increasing the benefit make sense? How was the amount decided? Internet and phone is far more than $9 and many consumers have zero income.


5. We missed the ConnectHome deadline. Can we still refer residents to the program? How often is documentation required to stay enrolled?


6. CCH where did you get the funding to build/acquire housing?


7. Are all services delivered by a secular provider?


8. Does the CCH program use Lifeline?

The service providers that participate in the Lifeline program vary by location because the law requires that each company receive designation to provide Lifeline service in a specific area from the relevant state commission or the FCC.

You can search for Lifeline providers in a specific area by using USAC's Companies Near Me Tool and entering a city and state or zip code. Access the tool here: https://data.usac.org/publicreports/CompaniesNearMe/Download/Report. The tool will provide a list of service providers that serve a specific area, the company phone number and website URL, and the service type the company offers. The list may be downloaded as a PDF or Excel file and printed for future reference.

Consumers experiencing homelessness who apply with a paper form may provide a description of the location where they live as their home address, along with map that allows USAC to identify geographic coordinates for their location. Examples of maps that are acceptable include: a screenshot of an online mapping tool with a pin drop on the consumer’s location; a gas station map with the consumer’s location circled; or a hand-drawn map with identifiable crossroads, landmarks, and distances. 

To receive updates from USAC about the status of their application, consumers experiencing homelessness may provide a mailing address of a shelter or another service where they frequently visit. Another option is for the consumer to work with a Lifeline provider that can submit the application on their behalf and update the consumer on the status of their application.

Lastly, if a consumer experiencing homelessness has access to the internet through a public library or other services, they may submit an online application instead of a paper form. The online application has a built-in mapping tool that consumers can use to identify where they live, and they can return to the website after they have submitted their application to see their application status.

Regarding whether the Lifeline discount can be used for a WiFi hotspot, available Lifeline services vary depending on the provider. 

To learn more about what areas qualify as Tribal lands eligible for the enhanced federal Lifeline benefit (of up to $34.25), visit USAC's Tribal Lands web page: https://www.lifelinesupport.org/additional-support-for-tribal-lands/.

At this time, enhanced support is not available to Tribal members who do not reside on Tribal lands. Lifeline-eligible consumers who do not reside on Tribal lands receive the standard support amount of up to $9.25. States or service providers may offer additional discounts, on top of the federal benefit, so it is important to check with the consumer’s Lifeline company and/or relevant state commission to see if additional support is available.

Many Lifeline providers offer services that are priced at or close to the discount amount so that they are free or low cost to end users, and the FCC monitors the Lifeline marketplace to ensure the program is meeting consumer needs. The Lifeline support amount and other eligible service criteria, including minimum service standards, were determined in the FCC’s 2016 Lifeline Order, available for download here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-16-38A1.pdf.

With so many consumers having been hard hit by the pandemic, there is always more that can be done. Because the tax that funds the FCC’s universal service programs is at an all-time high, however, major new funding initiatives must come from Congress. Therefore, the FCC and USAC have been providing relief for Lifeline consumers during the pandemic in other ways, such as temporary program changes to ensure that existing subscribers do not lose their benefit and that new subscribers can apply and receive service quickly. You can learn more about our COVID-19 response here: https://www.usac.org/lifeline/additional-requirements/covid-19-response/.  We have also been very focused on outreach (like this webinar!) to promote awareness of the program so newly-eligible consumers have the information and tools they need to sign up.  For resources you can share to help us spread awareness of the Lifeline program, please visit: https://www.usac.org/lifeline/learn/lifeline-resources-for-state-and-federal-partners/

Although this question does not appear to relate to the FCC’s Lifeline program, please feel free to pass along the following information if it is helpful. The federal Lifeline Program is available to eligible consumers at any time; they just need to apply. Learn more about the application process here: https://www.lifelinesupport.org/how-to-get-lifeline/.

Each year, USAC will conduct recertification for the Lifeline Program to ensure that enrolled consumers still qualify for the benefit. While the process is on hold temporarily due to FCC waivers released in response to COVID-19, USAC will contact any consumers that need to take action to complete recertification when the waivers lift.

Each housing project is funded differently but the basic funding sources generally include:  Low Income Housing Tax Credits, private investments both philanthropic and traditional banks, federal and state loans and/or grants, gap financing from state and local housing funds, and CCH reserve funds when available.

The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is a completely secular non-profit organization.

No, we do not currently use Lifeline.