Access to affordable communications services is essential to keeping residents informed and connected, particularly for vulnerable households, especially older adults experiencing financial hardship. This past week marked National Digital Connectivity and Lifeline Awareness Week, a national initiative focused on raising awareness of the Lifeline Program—a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) benefit program that helps make communications services more affordable for eligible low-income households.
Eligible households may receive a discount of up to $9.25 per month on qualifying voice, broadband, or bundled services. Subscribers living on qualifying Tribal lands may receive up to $34.25 per month.
The Department of Telecommunications and Cable (DTC) oversees the Lifeline Program in Massachusetts. We want to ensure that older adults are aware of this important federal benefit and understand how to apply as Lifeline service can help eligible households maintain access to essential communications services and stay connected to family, employment opportunities, health care, emergency services, and other important resources.
DTC staff are available to answer questions about Lifeline, telephone and cable consumer protections, and other communications service issues both through outreach and our Consumer Hotline at 1-800-392-6066, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Assistance is also available in Spanish.