Local Telephone
The Lifeline and Link-Up Programs offer monetary assistance to eligible residential local telephone customers. The federal and state-supported program was designed to make monthly telephone service and installation affordable for all residents.
Lifeline offers up to $13.50 off monthly telephone service and Link-Up offers 50% off installation.
Qualifying customers must present proof of participation from the Department of Social Services (DSS) during application.
Customers in York and Lake Wylie service area are not eligible to receive Lifeline and Link-Up benefits from Comporium.
For more information, contact your local Comporium office or call the Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) toll-free at 1-866-788-6565.
Click here to download a bilingual brochure (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• How do I apply?
• What proof of eligibility do I need to provide?
• Are there any restrictions?
Lifeline offers up to $13.50 off monthly telephone service and Link-Up offers 50% off installation.
Lifeline offers a discount on monthly telephone service and associated charges.
--Comporium’s standard rate for local service is $14.35 per month (plus $6.50 subscriber line charge)
--Comporium’s Lifeline rate for local service is only $7.35 per month
Link-Up offers a one-time 50% discount off service installation fees for basic telephone service
--Comporium’s standard service installation rate is $39.00
--Comporium’s Link-Up service installation rate is $19.50
You may be eligible for Lifeline and Link-Up if you qualify for one of the following:
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Food Stamps (EBT)
• Medicaid
• Residents residing on tribal lands may be eligible for additional discounts
Toll-blocking is also available at no charge upon customer request. This service puts a block on the phone line, prohibiting any long distance calls from being made.
--Comporium’s standard rate for local service is $14.35 per month (plus $6.50 subscriber line charge)
--Comporium’s Lifeline rate for local service is only $7.35 per month
Link-Up offers a one-time 50% discount off service installation fees for basic telephone service
--Comporium’s standard service installation rate is $39.00
--Comporium’s Link-Up service installation rate is $19.50
You may be eligible for Lifeline and Link-Up if you qualify for one of the following:
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Food Stamps (EBT)
• Medicaid
• Residents residing on tribal lands may be eligible for additional discounts
Toll-blocking is also available at no charge upon customer request. This service puts a block on the phone line, prohibiting any long distance calls from being made.
Tribal Lands Residents: Additional federal support is available to eligible consumers who reside on federally-recognized tribal lands or reservations.
Eligibility for Lifeline on Tribal Lands include all of the above programs plus
• Tribally-administered TANF
• Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) General Assistance
• Head-Start Program (income-eligible only)
Eligibility for Lifeline on Tribal Lands include all of the above programs plus
• Tribally-administered TANF
• Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) General Assistance
• Head-Start Program (income-eligible only)
Qualifying customers must present proof of participation from the Department of Social Services (DSS) during application.
Customers in York and Lake Wylie service area are not eligible to receive Lifeline and Link-Up benefits from Comporium.
For more information, contact your local Comporium office or call the Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) toll-free at 1-866-788-6565.
Click here to download a bilingual brochure (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• How do I apply?
- 1) Obtain proof of participation in one of the above qualifying government programs from the Department of Social Services.
- 2) Stop by any Comporium retail store to pick up an application.
• What proof of eligibility do I need to provide?
- You must sign a form or present an official document stating that you receive benefits from one of the qualifying programs listed above. Your Lifeline benefits will take effect when proof of eligibility is received.
- Lifeline: Savings up to $13.50/month on basic monthly bill
- Comporium’s Lifeline local service rate is $7.35/month
- Comporium’s standard local service rate is $14.35/month (plus $6.50 subscriber line charge)
- Link-Up: Savings up to $19.50 on service installation fees for basic phone service
- Comporium’s Link-Up service installation rate is $19.50
- Comporium’s standard service installation rate is $39.00
• Are there any restrictions?
- Lifeline can only be applied to the primary telephone line in a household. You may purchase additional services available to a non-Lifeline customer. The name on the phone bill must match the name of the household member participating on the eligible program. Link-Up may only be applied to initial local telephone service installation.
- Eligibility is reviewed periodically. Your benefits will stop when you no longer meet the eligibility requirements or when proof of eligibility is not received.
- Being a Lifeline or Link-Up customer does not protect you from being disconnected if you fail to pay your telephone bill.
- Lifeline and Link-Up discounts cannot be applied to an outstanding balance owed to the phone company.
- Lifeline can only be applied to one residential telephone per household (primary telephone account)
- If you are eligible for Lifeline, you may be eligible for Link-Up if telephone service does not exist in the house when signing up.
- Link-Up will pay 50% of your initial installation charges for total discount of $19.50. (Maximum benefit $30.00) An additional discount may apply to residents of federally recognized tribal lands.
- Customers residing on federally recognized tribal lands may be eligible for additional discounts.
- Lifeline authorization comes from the Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) or the Department of Social Services (DSS)
