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CTIA-The Wireless Association® Recognizes "National Telephone Discount Lifeline Awareness Week"
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In recognition of "National Telephone Discount Lifeline Awareness Week" (September 10-14, 2012), CTIA-The Wireless Association® joins the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to raise awareness for Lifeline, a federal and state program which provides financial assistance for telecommunications services.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100629/DC28223LOGO-a)
Funded by the Universal Service Fund (USF), Lifeline provides discounts on monthly telephone service, either wireless or wireline, for eligible consumers. It is vital that low-income and rural families have access to telephone services, which is why CTIA supports education efforts to increase awareness for these programs.
According to a June 2012 survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 90 percent of adults living near or below the poverty line live in a household that only uses a wireless device as their family's telephone. Nationwide, one in three households are wireless only. With more consumers, especially those who are low-income and rural, increasingly relying on wireless devices as their sole communications tools, it is vital individuals have the option to choose mobile services.
"The positive impact of access to wireless technology is tremendously valuable, which is why we are pleased to join NARUC, NASUCA and FCC to highlight this important program so low-income and rural consumers are aware of the quality, affordable telecommunications services," said Steve Largent, President and CEO of CTIA-The Wireless Association. "We also call on state and local policymakers to stop the excessive and discriminatory taxes and fees on wireless services that place an arbitrary and counterproductive burden on the same consumers these programs try to help. We are hopeful that when the U.S. Congress returns, they will pass the Wireless Tax Fairness Act, which would prevent any new and discriminatory wireless taxes and fees for five years."
For more information about "National Telephone Discount Lifeline Awareness Week," click here. To learn more about the Lifeline program, click here.
CTIA-The Wireless Association® (http://www.ctia.org) is an international organization representing the wireless communications industry. Membership in the association includes wireless carriers and their suppliers, as well as providers and manufacturers of wireless data services and products. CTIA advocates on behalf of its members at all levels of government. The association also coordinates the industry's voluntary best practices and initiatives, and sponsors the industry's leading wireless tradeshows. CTIA was founded in 1984 and is based in Washington, DC.
SOURCE CTIA-The Wireless Association
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100629/DC28223LOGO-a
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
CTIA-The Wireless Association
CONTACT: Amy Storey, 202.736.3207
Web Site: http://www.ctia.org
CTIA-The Wireless Association® Recognizes "National Telephone Discount Lifeline Awareness Week"
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In recognition of "National Telephone Discount Lifeline Awareness Week" (September 10-14, 2012), CTIA-The Wireless Association® joins the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to raise awareness for Lifeline, a federal and state program which provides financial assistance for telecommunications services.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100629/DC28223LOGO-a)
Funded by the Universal Service Fund (USF), Lifeline provides discounts on monthly telephone service, either wireless or wireline, for eligible consumers. It is vital that low-income and rural families have access to telephone services, which is why CTIA supports education efforts to increase awareness for these programs.
According to a June 2012 survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 90 percent of adults living near or below the poverty line live in a household that only uses a wireless device as their family's telephone. Nationwide, one in three households are wireless only. With more consumers, especially those who are low-income and rural, increasingly relying on wireless devices as their sole communications tools, it is vital individuals have the option to choose mobile services.
"The positive impact of access to wireless technology is tremendously valuable, which is why we are pleased to join NARUC, NASUCA and FCC to highlight this important program so low-income and rural consumers are aware of the quality, affordable telecommunications services," said Steve Largent, President and CEO of CTIA-The Wireless Association. "We also call on state and local policymakers to stop the excessive and discriminatory taxes and fees on wireless services that place an arbitrary and counterproductive burden on the same consumers these programs try to help. We are hopeful that when the U.S. Congress returns, they will pass the Wireless Tax Fairness Act, which would prevent any new and discriminatory wireless taxes and fees for five years."
For more information about "National Telephone Discount Lifeline Awareness Week," click here. To learn more about the Lifeline program, click here.
CTIA-The Wireless Association® (http://www.ctia.org) is an international organization representing the wireless communications industry. Membership in the association includes wireless carriers and their suppliers, as well as providers and manufacturers of wireless data services and products. CTIA advocates on behalf of its members at all levels of government. The association also coordinates the industry's voluntary best practices and initiatives, and sponsors the industry's leading wireless tradeshows. CTIA was founded in 1984 and is based in Washington, DC.
SOURCE CTIA-The Wireless Association
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100629/DC28223LOGO-a
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
CTIA-The Wireless Association
CONTACT: Amy Storey, 202.736.3207
Web Site: http://www.ctia.org