NEAlabama2022

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.

Do you need assistance paying for your monthly broadband or telephone service? You are eligible for Lifeline benefits if you qualify or someone in your household qualifies for and receives one of the following benefits: •Federal Public Housing Assistance •The Veteran’s Pension or Survivor’s Pension benefit Additionally, consumers at or below 135% of the Federal Pove y Guidelines will continue to be eligible for a Lifeline program benefit. (State determinations of income will no longer be accepted.) LIFELINE IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM TO HELP LOW-INCOME AMERICANS PAY FOR BROADBAND OR TELEPHONE SERVICE. This program provides a monthly discount for broadband or telephone services. •SNAP •Medicaid •Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

GET CONNECTED TO THE LIFELINE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

FTC is not responsible for determining who qualifies for these programs or who receives assistance. Consumers must meet specific criteria in

order to obtain assistance with their local telephone and/or broadband service, and qualifying is dependent upon government- established guidelines.

To apply visit: lifelinesuppo .org/ get-sta ed.

For more details visit: farmerstel.com/lifeline.

farmerstel.com/lifeline

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