• NTAP assists qualifying low-income individuals with obtaining and keeping telephone service by lowering monthly service.
• NTAP reduces the cost of local telephone service up to $12.75 per month. The discount will appear as a credit on your monthly telephone bill. No cash or checks will be distributed. The telephone bill must be in the name of, or contain the name of, the applicant.

Mainstay Communications offers the Nebraska Telephone Assistance Program (NTAP) and federal Lifeline program (Lifeline) supported service. The programs provide discounts to eligible low-income consumers to help them establish and maintain telephone or qualifying broadband internet access service (BIAS).

Rates NTAP reduces the cost of basic, monthly local telephone service by $3.50. The Lifeline program reduces costs of telephone or broadband internet access service (BIAS) up to $9.25 depending on selected qualifying service. Consumers can receive up to $12.75 per month in discounts when eligible for both programs. In addition, the Federal Universal Service Charge is not assessed to consumers participating in the programs.

How to apply for Lifeline To receive NTAP and Lifeline program credit, a subscriber must apply for and receive eligibility approval from the Lifeline National Verifier. After receiving eligibility approval, the subscriber must notify Mainstay Communications to be enrolled in the Lifeline program. Next, the subscriber must complete the Nebraska Telephone Assistance Program (NTAP)/Lifeline Attestation Form. After enrollment in each program, the subscriber will be eligible to receive the associated credit.

Lifeline National Verifier Application Options: There are three different ways a subscriber can apply for the benefit with the Lifeline National Verifier:

1) Electronic application on Lifeline National Verifier website: https://www.lifelinesupport.org/get-started/

2) Paper application mailed to the Lifeline National Verifier for review and approval. Link to a printable version of the application: https://www.usac.org/wp-content/uploads/lifeline/documents/forms/LI_Application_NVstates.pdf Mail the application and eligibility information to: USAC Lifeline Support Center PO Box 7081 London, KY 40742

3) Complete an in-person interview with our Customer Service Representative. During the interview all information will be entered in the Lifeline National Verifier electronic system for approval.

All three methods will require approval by the Lifeline National Verifier. If the Lifeline National Verifier is unable to electronically validate subscriber eligibility information, additional information may be required. This information must demonstrate eligibility through participation in one of the qualifying federal assistance programs or through income-based means.

NTAP Assistance Form (Completed after approval by the Lifeline National Verifier): A completed Nebraska Telephone Assistance Program (NTAP)/Lifeline Attestation Form must be received by the Nebraska public service commission to receive the NTAP assistance.

Link to a printable version of the form: https://psc.nebraska.gov/sites/psc.nebraska.gov/files/doc/Attestation%20Form.pdf Mail the completed form to: NTAP P.O. Box 94927 Lincoln, NE 68509-4927

Program Based Eligibility Consumers are eligible for NTAP/Lifeline if they, one of their dependents or their household participate in one of the following qualifying assistance programs: • Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) • Medicaid • Supplemental Security Income (SSI) • Veteran’s Pension and Survivor Benefit

Acceptable documentation of program-based eligibility includes: current or prior year’s statement of benefits from a qualifying state, federal or Tribal program; notice letter of participation in a qualifying state, federal or Tribal program; program participation documents; or another official document evidencing the consumer’s participation in a qualifying state, federal or Tribal program.

Income Based Eligibility Consumers are eligible for NTAP/Lifeline if their household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. 2022 Federal Poverty Guidelines – 135%

2022 Federal Poverty Level for Continental United States

Acceptable documentation of income eligibility includes: prior year’s state, federal or Tribal tax return; current income statement from an employer or paycheck stub; social security statement of benefits; Veterans Administration statement of benefits; retirement/pension statement of benefits; unemployment/workmen’s compensation statement of benefits; federal or Tribal notice of letter participating in General Assistance; or a divorce decree or child support award or other official document containing income information.

Lifeline Program Service Mainstay Communications Voice NTAP and Lifeline service includes unlimited local minutes-of-use within the toll free calling area. Mainstay Communications Voice NTAP and Lifeline service does not include any free minutes-of-use for toll. Toll is billed at the standard toll rate depending on which interexchange carrier the consumer subscribes to for toll service. As part of the Lifeline service, toll blocking is available to eligible consumers at no cost.

BIAS minimum speed and usage allowance standards are required for the service to qualify for the benefit.

Recertification of Lifeline Eligibility Service recipients are required to recertify their eligibility annually. Failure to properly recertify a recipient’s continued eligibility for service will result in termination of the service recipient’s monthly service discount and de-enrollment from service.

Additional Lifeline Program Information The Lifeline program and NTAP are limited to one benefit per household, consisting of either telephone line or BIAS. A household is defined, for purposes of the programs, as an individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address and share income and expenses. NTAP and the Lifeline program are government benefit programs, and consumers who willfully make false statements in order to obtain the benefit can be punished by fines, imprisonment, de-enrollment or can be barred from the program.