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]