Vernon Telephone Cooperative - Westby, Wisconsin

Lifeline & Link Up Program

There is a new Lifeline & Link Up Program (Universal Service Fund) that is mandatory for the State of Wisconsin. This is a program set up by the state and the federal government to provide assistance to low income families.

What qualifies as low income household is a household that benefits from:

	Medicaid
	Food Stamps
	Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
	Federal Public Housing Assistance or Federal Housing Assistance Program Administered by the Department of Urban Development Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
	Wisconsin Homestead Tax Credit Subsidized discounts are available to customers meeting certain low income criteria. Information concerning these plans is available by contacting Vernon Telephone Cooperative at (608) 634-3136 or 1-800-543-2029.

Wisconsin Telecommunications Relay Service

The Wisconsin Telecommunications Relay System is a state provided service that allows people with speech or hearing impairments who use a text telephone (Also referred to as TTY/TDD) to communicate with people who use conventional telephones. This service is available by dialing 711.

FCC Regulations

All telephone customers, residential as well as business, are charged a federal end user fee. This nationwide fee gives all customers access to the long distance network, whether or not they choose to place long distance calls. The end user fees supplement the reduction in toll revenues by local telephone companies resulting from the deregulation of the telephone industry. The end user fees are set by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) and may change from time to time as the FCC deems necessary.
For more information visit the FCC's website at www.fcc.gov

Consumer Telephone Numbers

Wisconsin Public Service Commission	1-800-225-7729
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)	1-888-225-5322
Yellow Page Advertising (The Berry Company)	1-800-877-0475
Consumer Protection Agency	1-800-422-7128