Low Income

Step 5: FCC Outreach Guidelines

The Federal Communications Commission has provided guidelines to assist eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) with their outreach efforts.

The FCC has provided the following guidelines to assist ETCs regarding advertising the availability of Lifeline:

  1. States and ETCs should utilize outreach materials and methods designed to reach households that do not currently have telephone service.
    • Post notices at public transportation, shelters, soup kitchens, public transportation agencies
    • Run public service announcements
    • Information booths at central locations
    • Provide customer service to disabled program participants on an equal basis by using telecommunications relay services (TRS), text telephone (TTY), and speech-to-speech (STS) services; and by providing outreach materials in Braille
    • Do not rely on bill inserts and advertising in telephone books. These methods are not likely to attract individuals who do not have phone service
    • Do not rely on internet notices as the primary means of outreach
    • Do not rely on hotlines as the primary means of outreach
  1. States and ETCs should develop advertising that can be read by members of any sizeable non-English speaking populations.
    • Offer the suggestions above in languages other than English
    • Offer toll-free number in other languages
    • Make available applications in other languages
  1. States and ETCs should coordinate their outreach efforts with governmental agencies that administer any of the relevant government assistance programs.
    • Social service agencies
    • Tribal organizations
    • Community centers
    • Public schools
    • Nursing homes
    • Organizations such as AARP, United Way, etc.
  1. States and ETCs should utilize USAC as a resource.

Last modified on 2/29/2008