Telecom Solutions - Lifeline Awareness Week

If one were to map out all of the awareness days/weeks/months onto a calendar, the calendar would be full. As it is, mine is populated with some heavyweights – Love your pet week, Random acts of kindness month, World thinking day, Foot health day and the ever popular, Panda Bear Month. Ok, I made up the Panda Bear one, but give it time and there will be one.

This week is Lifeline Awareness Week. Most would not know what this is or what it means to more than 13 million Americans. To some, it is an annoying charge that they see every month on their phone bill. To others, it is truly a lifeline.

Most of us take for granted that we can at any moment pick up our cell phone or landline and call friends, family, work or 911 in an emergency.  But, before 1985, this very basic necessity remained a luxury for many low-income Americans. With a goal of ensuring access to communications for all, Lifeline service was launched during the Reagan administration. The guidelines are strict and penalties for fraudulent use are severe, but overall the program has been wildly successful in bringing a more level communications playing field. In 2008, the service was expanded to include wireless service as well. Over 2,000 telecommunications companies provide these discounted basic phone services. Lifeline is funded solely by an 8 cents per month surcharge on all telephone service bills, both wireline and wireless, and not a dime of taxpayer money goes to provide this service.

I have heard several public service announcements regarding Lifeline Service which told the stories and highlighted the benefits of those who cannot afford what many of us expect. I will never again look at that charge on my phone bill and wonder what that is or who it benefits.

-Suzanne Beck 

VP Business Development

Telecom Solutions - Telamon Corporation