§  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 § § 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 § 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]