[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 47, Volume 3]
[Revised as of October 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 47CFR54.411]

[Page 133]
 
                       TITLE 47--TELECOMMUNICATION
 
        CHAPTER I--FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED)
 
PART 54_UNIVERSAL SERVICE--Table of Contents
 
      Subpart E_Universal Service Support for Low-Income Consumers
 
Sec. 54.411  Link Up program defined.

    (a) For purposes of this subpart, the term ``Link Up'' shall 
describe the following assistance program for qualifying low-income 
consumers, which an eligible telecommunications carrier shall offer as 
part of its obligation set forth in Sec. Sec. 54.101(a)(9) and 
54.101(b):
    (1) A reduction in the carrier's customary charge for commencing 
telecommunications service for a single telecommunications connection at 
a consumer's principal place of residence. The reduction shall be half 
of the customary charge or $30.00, whichever is less; and
    (2) A deferred schedule for payment of the charges assessed for 
commencing service, for which the consumer does not pay interest. The 
interest charges not assessed to the consumer shall be for connection 
charges of up to $200.00 that are deferred for a period not to exceed 
one year. Charges assessed for commencing service include any charges 
that the carrier customarily assesses to connect subscribers to the 
network. These charges do not include any permissible security deposit 
requirements.
    (3) For an eligible resident of Tribal lands, a reduction of up to 
$70, in addition to the reduction in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, 
to cover 100 percent of the charges between $60 and $130 assessed for 
commencing telecommunications service at the principal place of 
residence of the eligible resident of Tribal lands. For purposes of this 
paragraph, charges assessed for commencing telecommunications services 
shall include any charges that the carrier customarily assesses to 
connect subscribers to the network, including facilities-based charges 
associated with the extension of lines or construction of facilities 
needed to initiate service. The reduction shall not apply to charges 
assessed for facilities or equipment that fall on the customer side of 
demarcation point, as defined in Sec. 68.3 of this chapter.
    (b) A qualifying low-income consumer may choose one or both of the 
programs set forth in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section. An 
eligible resident of Tribal lands may participate in paragraphs (a)(1), 
(a)(2), and (a)(3) of this section.
    (c) A carrier's Link Up program shall allow a consumer to receive 
the benefit of the Link Up program for a second or subsequent time only 
for a principal place of residence with an address different from the 
residence address at which the Link Up assistance was provided 
previously.
    (d) An eligible telecommunications carrier shall publicize the 
availability of Link Up support in a manner reasonably designed to reach 
those likely to qualify for the support.

[62 FR 32948, June 17, 1997, as amended at 65 FR 47906, Aug. 4, 2000]

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