NEAlabama2021

Important Notices

Alabama Public Service Commission Inquiries

3. Advise your children to give no information to strang- ers. If you’re not home, they should say “Mother / Father can’t come to the phone right now.” 4. If calls persist call your telephone company or your Police Department. It is a crime under both Alabama and federal laws for anyone to make obscene or harassing phone calls. These laws impose penalties of not more than 1 year imprisonment and / or not more than $1,000. National Do-Not-Call Registry Pursuant to its broad authority under the Telephone Consumer Protection ACT (TCPA), the FCC established a National Do-Not-Call Registry. The registry is nationwide in scope, applies to all telemarketers (with the exception of certain non-profit organizations), and covers both interstate and intrastate telemarketing calls. Commercial telemar- keters are not allowed to call you if your number is on the registry. As a result, consumers can, if they choose, reduce the number of unwanted phone calls to their homes. For more information about the national Do-Not-Call-Registry log on to http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/donotcall or http://www.ftc.gov/donotcall.

If you have a utility or (common carrier) transportation complaint, please attempt first to resolve the issue by direct contact with that utility or transportation company. If you are unable to achieve results from that direct contact, you may then call the Alabama Public Service Commission by dialing toll free, 1-800-392-8050. Please note your Public Service Commission does not regulate the following utilities; and therefore, does not have the power to resolve complaints concerning them: electric cooperatives, most water companies, municipal utilities, cable TV systems, Tennessee Valley Authority. How to Handle Obscene or Harassing Calls If you receive obscene, harassing or threatening calls, fol- low these suggestions: 1. Hang up at the first obscene word or if the caller doesn’t say anything the second time you say hello. 2. Give no information such as your name and address until the caller has been identified.

You may qualify for the Lifeline Assistance program if you pa icipate in one of the following:

•SNAP •Medicaid

•Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit •Tribal Programs

•Supplemental Security Income (SSI) •Federal Public Housing Assistance

Customers with household income at or below 135% of the Federal Pove y Guidelines remain eligible to receive Lifeline Assistance. Customers may also qualify for Lifeline Assistance if you, someone in your household, your child or dependent pa icipates in any one of the federal assistance programs listed above.

To qualify for Lifeline Assistance, customers must complete standard application forms including the federal criteria for eligibility and provide proof of income or pa icipation in one of the listed government assistance programs. Only eligible customers may enroll in the Lifeline program — Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative is not responsible for determining who qualifies for the program or who receives assistance. The Lifeline benefit is limited to one discount per household; may not be transferred, sold or rented to any other person; and may only be used for one source of communication, either cellphone, Internet or landline phone service. Application forms and information are available at FTC’s business office.

GET CONNECTED TO THE LIFELINE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

A government program that can help pay a po ion of your monthly telephone or internet bill.

For more details about Lifeline Service, to apply for assistance, or for additional information about FTC’s local and optional calling plans, please call us at 256-638-2144, or stop by our business office.

farmerstel.com/voice/lifeline

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