February Lifeline Awareness Month was developed by Xchange Telecom to help our community learn about this little known Government subsidy.

The Telephone subsidy called Lifeline was created by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to make telecommunications service available and affordable for all Americans. The FCC collects fees from telephone carriers and uses the funds to provide a monthly subsidy to low-income consumers. The Lifeline subsidy is similar to HEAP for home heating or electricity needs.

Although this program was created in 1997, many eligible consumers are still unaware how they can save money on their home phone bill. The reason this subsidy is so unfamiliar is that the leading Lifeline provider in the state did not design, price or market its program for a typical home phone customer. The red tape that a customer was made to cut through was also practically insurmountable. A low income consumer was forced to pay full charges and all taxes for up to two months, before any savings were applied. Most disturbing, is that the carriers did not advertise this program at all.

It is not for lack of the government trying to get the message out. New York State and the FCC have unsuccessfully spent millions of dollars promoting the Lifeline landline Telephone program. In the past few years the government has dedicated a ‘lifeline awareness week’ once a year with minimal new market penetration. Yet most customers remain unaware.

In these challenging times, Xchange Telecom has worked diligently over the past three years to develop a unique, simple and affordable lifeline program designed specifically for the needs of the real customer. Xchange Telecom has added thousands of eligible Lifeline customers to become the largest provider of landline Lifeline services in New York after Verizon.

Who is Xchange Telecom?

Headquartered in Brooklyn, NY, Xchange Telecom has been recognized by Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest growing private companies in America in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Xchange Telecom is a full service provider of reliable telecommunications solutions for business and residential customers. Xchange’s network is backed by its own state-of-the-art facilities located throughout the New York metro area. Tens of thousands of customers rely on Xchange Telecom’s network for the highest quality service and exceptional value. Xchange Telecom Corp., led by a management team with over 75 years combined experience, has been providing carrier services, connectivity and collocation solutions for over a decade.

Lifeline by Xchange Telecom

Xchange Lifeline program is designed to be intuitive and simple. It provides a significant discount on residential telephone service for eligible low-income households. Consumers who qualify for LifeLine pay a fraction of the regular cost for monthly local telephone service. In some cases, the discounted savings are a minimum of 35 percent, and if you are paying the national average phone price of $50 or more per line (including taxes and fees), the savings are even greater!

Potential customers can simply attach an approved copy of proof of other government benefits to Xchange’s short application. Xchange has set up bundled feature packages designed for customers to get most service for their money. Its practical plans are tailored to the “real” marketplace and were created to meet the specific needs of our community.

Anyone who is enrolled in one of the programs listed below is automatically qualified to be a Lifeline customer.

•Food Stamps (FS)

•Medicaid

•Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

•Safety Net Assistance

•Family Assistance

•Supplemental Security Income

•Veteran’s Surviving Spouse Pension

•Veteran’s Disability Pension

•Household income is at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty level.

For more information about the Lifeline program and eligibility in the Xchange Lifeline program, please call (855 6 LIFELINE) or go to www.lifelinenewyork.com

(YWN Desk – NYC)