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 at www.checklifeline.org/lifeline.

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

Terms and Conditions of Voice Telephony Lifeline

What is the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)?

(Formerly known as the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program)

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 (OEC) is applying as a qualified broadband provider for a portion of these funds to help our community members in need. If your household is eligible, you can receive:

• If you enrolled in EBB by December 30, 2021, you will get up to a $50 monthly discount until March 1, 2022. 

• After March 1, households with EBB can transition to the ACP to get a lower $30 monthly discount.

• The ACP changes some eligibility rules from the EBB. Most households with EBB will be able to transition to the ACP. Some may need to re-enroll under a different eligibility qualification. 

• If you enrolled after December 30, 2021, you will get a $30 monthly discount. 

• Only one monthly service discount is allowed per household.

Please Note:

     1.    EBBP is a government program that reduces the customer's broadband internet service bill 
     2.    EBBP 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 EBB Program from any participating Carrier of their choosing 
     5.    Households may transfer their EBB program benefit to another Carrier at anytime 
 

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

Program Eligibility

Acceptable Documentation Examples

Income Eligibility

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Application Instructions:

1) Fill out National Verifier application if you feel that you qualify USAC EBBP Application Process

2) Once you are approved, please fill out the short application ACP Application

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

3) Attach acceptable ID 

4) Please send us verified application, short application and acceptable ID to email: EBBP@otsegoec.coop or mail to PO Box 128, Hartwick, NY13348 

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.

OEConnect, LLC.

PO Box 128

Hartwick NY 13348

Pay-by-Phone 1-844-843-6842  -  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.

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. 

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.