Lifeline

OEConnect Offers Lifeline Service to Eligible Subscribers!

Lifeline Discount

Lifeline is a federal program to help make communication services more affordable for low-income households. Lifeline provides subscribers a discount on monthly telephone service purchased from participating providers. Subscribers can also purchase discounted broadband from participating providers. The discounts will help ensure that low-income households can afford 21st-century broadband and the access it provides to jobs, education, and other opportunities. The program currently provides up to $9.25 toward the monthly cost of broadband or up to $5.25 toward the cost of phone service (but not both). 

Eligibility

You might be eligible for the Lifeline Discount if you are eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP), Medicaid, SSI, federal public housing assistance, Veteran’s or Survivor’s Pension benefit, or income-based eligibility (at or below 135% of Federal Poverty Guidelines). You can only receive one benefit and it can be used for cellular, internet or phone services.  You also must recertify annually. 

More Details

More information is available at www.lifelinesupport.org.

To apply, you must visit the Lifeline National Verifier website.

Please call our office at 607.293.6622 to see if you are in one of our Lifeline-eligible areas. 

 

Lifeline Program Application

Terms and Conditions of Voice Telephone Lifeline

Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

What is the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)?

The ACP Program is a Federal Communication Commission (FCC) program designed to help low-income households pay for internet service and connected devices. 

OEConnect, LLC. (OEConnect) offers discounted service to eligible households through the Affordable Connectivity Program, or ACP. The ACP is a government program that reduces customers’ broadband monthly Internet access service bills. Households can qualify for ACP benefits if their total income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (ACP Eligibility Guidelines) for a household of that size, if a member of the household is currently enrolled in Lifeline, or if at least one member of the household participates in a qualifying government program, including SNAP, Medicaid, SSI or the Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, as well as other specified programs. You can find out more about our ACP-discounted offerings and how to enroll by calling (607) 293-6622. If the Program ends, or if a participating household is no longer eligible, the household will be subject to OEConnect’s regular rates, terms, and conditions.

Please Note:

     1.    ACP is a government program that reduces the customer's broadband internet service bill 
     2.    ACP is temporary in nature 
     3.    Households will be subject to the Carrier's undiscounted rates and general terms and conditions at the end of the                  program if they continue to receive service 
     4.    Households may obtain broadband service supported by the ACP Program from any participating Carrier of their                  choosing 
     5.    Households may transfer their ACP program benefit to another Carrier at anytime 
 

To further understand the program, please review the following links:

Program Eligibility

Acceptable Documentation Examples

Income Eligibility

Application Instructions:

1) Find out if you qualify and apply online USAC ACP Application Process

2) Once you are approved, please fill out the required application in full: ACP Application

* Interactive application must be downloaded and saved to your computer first before filling it out.

3) Attach a copy of your National Verifier Application ID # and approval.

4) Attach an acceptable form of identification: ACP Acceptable Documentation Guide

5) Return all forms by email to: EBBP@otsegoec.coop or by mail to P.O. Box 128, Hartwick, NY 13348.

Please note: In order to be eligible for the program, the ACP application must be filled out in your OEConnect Account holder's name. Third parties, not on your account, are unable to qualify you for the program.

 

If you have any further questions or to see if your plan qualifies for the ACP Discount, please contact the OEC Business Office at 607-293-6622.

 

 

Billing

OEConnect, LLC.

PO Box 128

Hartwick NY 13348

Pay-by-Phone 1-844-963-2837  -  24/7

SmartHub — Pay Now

No registration is required. Just use your billing account number and your last name or the name of your business to pay your bill quickly and easy.

smarthub_pay_now_logo.png

Please note that Pay Now allows you to pay your bill with no registration required.

 

If you want to set up recurring payments you will need to create an account at Smart Hub

 

Our billing department can be reached at 607-293-6622 during regular business hours. 

 

Benefits of Fiber

OEConnect’s Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Broadband is beneficial to our community today, and will be for many years to come.

 

Here are several reasons why OEConnect is your best, local choice:

 

  1. Local Ownership—The OEConnect network is owned by our cooperative members so it is locally controlled, with local and responsive support.
  2. Competitive Prices—Prices for internet and phone service are very competitive.  We can provide up to 1 Gigabit symmetrical service with no data caps.
  3. Education—OEConnect puts rural students on equal technological footing with students who live in larger towns.  In addition, remote learning is more important now than ever before.
  4. Telemedicine— OEConnect’s network offers the ability for new opportunities like having a diagnostic session with your doctor from the comfort of your home. Our network will help improve the delivery of healthcare to everyone in the area.
  5. Telecommuting and E-Commerce—Faster and reliable Internet makes it easier for people to run businesses or work remotely from their homes.
  6. Equal Access Worldwide—The fiber network will keep our area competitive with the best Internet speeds in the world, today and in the future.  Also we have no throttling, content controls, or favoritism for large commercial users
  7. Economic Development—The OEConnect network helps to spur economic growth in, and around, our area.
  8. Investment in The Future— Otsego Electric Cooperative and OEConnect took the opportunity to make a positive and lasting investment in our future.  For rural residents it represents an opportunity to bring state-of-the-art fiber and internet technology to their homes that will never happen again.