The Lifeline Service Program (“Lifeline”) is a federally funded program established to provide monthly assistance to low income households. Lifeline is available to qualified low-income consumers (hereinafter, “Qualified Lifeline Consumer”) and provides a discount on their monthly invoice.  

Lifeline. Qualified Optico Fiber Broadband Consumer may receive a Lifeline discount for eligible broadband services. The terms of service for Optico’s broadband service are located at: www.opticofiber.com/help/terms-of-service Upon application and acceptance, a Qualified Lifeline Consumer shall have the Lifeline subsidy applied to their selected service. Only one Lifeline discount is allowed per Household (one telephone line or one broadband service). The definition of a "Household" is anyone living at an address (including children, relatives, people not related to you, etc.) who share income(s) and household expenses. A Household is not permitted to receive Lifeline benefits from multiple providers.  

Eligibility. To qualify for Lifeline, a consumer must meet certain state and federal eligibility requirements. These state and federal eligibility requirements include program-based eligibility or income-based eligibility.  

Program Based Eligibility. To be eligible for Lifeline services, individuals or families must show a card, letter, or official document as proof that they participate in and receive benefits under one of the following public assistance programs: Medicaid Program; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP), (PAN) ; Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) / Section 8; Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit Program . (NOTE: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is not available for residents of Puerto Rico.) 

Income Based Eligibility. Consumers may also qualify for Lifeline under the income-based eligibility criteria, if their total combined household income is at or below 135% of Federal Poverty Guidelines.  

Appling for Optico Fiber Lifeline service.   

Subscribers can apply for Optico Fiber Lifeline by completing and submitting the Lifeline Program application (available on the Optico Fiber website); providing the supporting documentation that they meet the eligibility requirements; and certifying, under penalty of perjury, that they:  

i. Are eligible for and currently receive benefits from the public assistance program(s) identified in the application form, or that they have income at or below the designated eligibility level.  

ii. Do not currently receive Lifeline support serving their household and no other resident in their household participates in the Lifeline program.  

iii. Have reviewed the information contained in their application and it is true and correct to the best of their knowledge and belief, and that they understand that providing false or fraudulent information to obtain Lifeline benefits is punishable by law.  

If a subscriber is applying based on state or federal program-based eligibility, he or she will be required to provide a copy of a document or program card showing proof of his or her participation in the qualifying program. This document or card must include the participant’s name, address, program name and effective date of the award. For example, if the subscriber is eligible for the Lifeline because he or she participates in the Medicaid program, he or she will need to submit a copy of his or her Medicaid benefit card with the corresponding application.  

If a subscriber is applying based on his or her Household income being at or below 135 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, he or she must provide Optico Fiber with income documentation. Acceptable documentation includes: current income statement from an employer; prior year’s federal income tax return; a Social Security statement of benefits; a Veterans Administration statement of benefits; a retirement or pension statement of benefits; an Unemployment or Workers’ Compensation statement of benefits; a federal notice letter of participation in General Assistance; A divorce decree; a child support award; or other official document containing income information.  

A consumer’s application for Lifeline services will be evaluated by Optico Fiber and/or any applicable state or federal agencies to confirm and verify the customer’s eligibility to receive the Lifeline subsidy. Once approved, the Lifeline subsidy shall be applied to the consumer’s account on the first billing cycle after their acceptance into Lifeline.  

By submitting an application to Optico Fiber for Lifeline services, a subscriber consents and agrees to the disclosure of any and all information submitted by the subscriber to USAC, USAC’s agents, the National Lifeline Accountability Database and/or applicable state agencies to ensure the proper administration of the Lifeline program, and failure to provide such consent will result in the subscriber being denied the Lifeline service.  

Restrictions/Requirements 

Lifeline Service Areas 

Optico Fiber Lifeline services are only available for activation by consumers who reside in areas in which Critical Hub Networks, Inc. has been designated as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (“ETC”). To receive a Lifeline subsidy, a consumer’s principal residence address must be within an Optico Fiber Lifeline Broadband ETC service area, and service must be delivered to that address. Subscribers should visit www.opticofiber.com and verify if their address is within an eligible service area.  

Nontransferable and Nonassignable 

Eligibility for Optico Fiber Lifeline services is personal and relates to the consumer individually. Lifeline consumers may not transfer to any third party, including a third party that is eligible for Lifeline, any of the consumer’s rights or benefits received under Lifeline. 

Change in Eligibility 

A Qualified Lifeline Consumer must notify Optico Fiber by submitting a Lifeline Change Notification/Request Form (available on the Optico Fiber website) within 30 days if he or she no longer qualify for any of the public assistance programs identified in his or her application form, no longer meets the criteria for income eligibility, if another member of his or her Household receives Lifeline benefits, or if he or she no longer qualifies for Lifeline for any other reason. Once a consumer informs Optico Fiber that he or she is no longer eligible for Lifeline, Optico Fiber shall de-enroll the consumer for Lifeline and discontinue the consumer’s Lifeline subsidy as of the first billing cycle following the effective date of the loss of benefits.  

Annual Recertification 

A Qualified Lifeline Consumer must certify each year that 1) he or she is still eligible to receive the Lifeline subsidy and that 2) no one else in his or her Household is receiving a Lifeline subsidy. Each year, Qualified Lifeline Consumers will receive a notice to remind them to recertify their eligibility for Lifeline services and includes instructions on how to do it. They must complete this recertification process by the deadline, or they will lose their Lifeline subsidy.  

De-enrollment 

If during the re-certification process, or at any other time, Optico Fiber determines that a Qualified Lifeline Consumer fails to continue to qualify for Lifeline services, such customer will immediately be deemed ineligible to will be de-enrolled from Lifeline. If a Qualified Lifeline Consumer fails to complete his or her recertification by the deadline, he or she will be de-enrolled from Lifeline. A Qualified Lifeline Consumer may choose to voluntarily de-enroll from Lifeline at any time, by submitting a Lifeline Change Notification/Request Form (available on the Optico Fiber website). Upon de-enrollment from the Lifeline program for any reason, the customer shall no longer receive the Lifeline subsidy as of the first billing cycle following the effective date of their de-enrollment. De-enrollment from Lifeline for any reason will not terminate a consumer’s service agreement with Optico Fiber and termination of a consumer’s Optico Fiber service may be subject to an early termination fee.  

Right to Terminate Service 

Optico Fiber reserves the right to terminate the enrollment of any consumer and/or permanently deactivate any consumer’s Optico Fiber service for fraud, misrepresentation or other misconduct as determined solely by Critical Hub. The consumer agrees the Optico Fiber service will not be used for any other purpose that is not allowed by this agreement, the Optico Fiber Terms of Service, or that is illegal. Optico Fiber can, without notice, limit, suspend or end a consumer’s service and de-enroll him or her from Lifeline for violating this provision or for any other good cause. 

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