Government Assistance Programs
SCTC and PTC are participating providers in the following Federal and State Communications Assistance Programs.
Affordable Connectivity Program
The Affordable Connectivity Program is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program to ensure families and households can afford the connections they need for work, school, health care and more. Eligible households will get a discount of up to $30 per month towards eligible broadband plans. This benefit is limited to one monthly service discount per household.
Customers who qualify for the Lifeline program (see below), also qualify for Affordable Connectivity Program enrollment. If you are not a Lifeline customer, you may still qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program.
To determine your eligibility and sign up for the Affordable Connectivity Program, please visit https://acpbenefit.org/ or call the FCC at 877-384-2575.
When signing up for SCTC or PTC broadband services, your installation may take place before we can confirm your Affordable Connectivity Program status and you may be charged standard monthly services, and applicable taxes and fees. It’s important to receive your enrollment confirmation from the Affordable Connectivity Program prior to installation to avoid standard (undiscounted) monthly charges.
If payment of monthly charges for ACP Supported services above the discounted monthly amount become past due for longer than 90 days, termination of the service will occur.
You may obtain broadband service supported by the Affordable Connectivity Program from any participating provider of your choosing, and you may transfer your Affordable Connectivity Program benefit to another provider at any time. If you continue to receive broadband services from SCTC or PTC after transferring your service to another provider, you will be subject to our standard rates and general terms and conditions.
For complaints with how we, or another provider handled your ACP supported service or enrollment, you have the right to file an informal complaint with the FCC via their website or phone number below:
Federal Lifeline Support Program & Oregon Telephone Assistance Program
Lifeline is the FCC’s program to help make communications services more affordable for low-income consumers. Lifeline provides subscribers a discount on qualifying monthly telephone service, broadband Internet service, or bundled voice-broadband packages purchased from participating providers like SCTC and PTC. The discount helps ensure that low-income consumers can afford 21st century broadband and the access it provides to jobs, healthcare, and educational resources.
Lifeline provides up to a $9.25 monthly discount on service for eligible low-income subscribers. Subscribers may receive a Lifeline discount on either a wireline or a wireless service, but they may not receive a discount on both services at the same time. Lifeline also supports broadband Internet service and broadband-voice bundles. FCC rules prohibit more than one Lifeline service per household.
In addition to the Federal Lifeline discount, the Oregon Telephone Assistance Program offers an additional $10.00 state discount to eligible customers who apply their discount to a telephone or broadband service.
Eligibility & Application
To receive the Federal Lifeline discount and/or the Oregon Telephone Assistance Program discount each month, you must certify that you or someone in your household is eligible. Visit https://www.oregon.gov/puc/Pages/Oregon-Lifeline.aspx to complete an online application or call the Oregon Public Utility Commission at (800) 848-4442 to request a paper application. You must verify your continued eligibility annually (or as requested).
If there is someone else at the address who is receiving a Federal Lifeline discount and you wish to be considered a separate economic unit, the Federal Lifeline Application and proof of eligibility must be submitted along with the Federal Lifeline Household Worksheet.
For further information, please contact us via phone at 503-769-2121 or via email to csr@sctcweb.com.