The Lifeline Service Program (“Lifeline”) is a federally funded program established to provide monthly assistance to low-income households. The program is available to qualified low-income consumers and provides a discount on the qualified customer’s monthly service.
To participate in the program, customers must either have an income that is at or below 135% of the federal Federal Poverty Guidelines - Universal Service Administrative Company (lifelinesupport.org) or participate in certain assistance programs. Determine your eligibility by visiting: Do I Qualify Lifeline Terms and Conditions.
I. Lifeline Program
a. Qualified Mercury Broadband customers may receive a Lifeline discount on their voice service, broadband service, or as part of a bundled voice and broadband package. Terms and conditions of service are located at:
Mercury Broadband Legal Policies. Once an application has been processed and accepted, a qualified Lifeline customer will have the Lifeline subsidy applied to their selected service.
b. The Federal credit amount provided to qualified Lifeline subscribers will be the maximum amount authorized by the FCC. Information for current and future discount amounts can be found at
Lifeline Program for Low-Income Consumers | Federal Communications Commission.
c. FCC rules prohibit more than one Lifeline service per household. The definition of a ‘household’ is anyone living at an address (including children, relatives, people not related to the account holder, etc.) who share income(s) and household expenses. A household is not permitted to receive lifeline benefits from multiple providers.
II. Eligibility
a. To qualify for Lifeline service, a subscriber must meet certain state and federal eligibility requirements. These requirements are determined by the state in which the customer resides. These state and federal eligibility requirements include program-based eligibility or income-based eligibility. For a full list of rules regarding eligibility visit
Do I Qualify Lifeline Terms and Conditions.
b. Ways to Qualify for Lifeline.
i. Based on Your Income
1. You can get Lifeline if your income is 135% or less than the federal poverty guidelines
2. Show proof of income, like three consecutive pay stubs or a tax return, when you apply for lifeline.
ii. If you use SNAP, Medicaid, or Other Programs
1. You can get Lifeline if you (or someone in your household) participates on one of these federal assistance programs:
a. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps
b. Medicaid
c. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
d. Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
e. Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
f. Tribal Programs (and live on federally recognized Tribal Lands)
2. Show a card, letter, or official document, as proof that you participate in one of these programs when you apply for lifeline.
iii. Qualify Through Your Child or Dependent. You can sign up for Lifeline if your child or dependent participates in any of the programs listed above.
III. Application
a. If you think you qualify for lifeline, visit the
How to Get Lifeline - Universal Service Administrative Company to get started. The FCC provides an online application or paper application that can be completed and mailed along with proof of eligibility.
b. A customer’s application for Lifeline services will be evaluated by Mercury Broadband and/or any applicable state or federal agencies to confirm and verify the customer’s eligibility to receive the Lifeline support. Once approved, the Lifeline subsidy shall be applied to the customer’s account on the first billing cycle after their acceptance into the program. No refunds will be provided for charges prior to enrollment and approval of the program.
c. The Lifeline program is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”) and in some states by state agencies. By applying for Lifeline services, a subscriber consents and agrees to the disclosure of any and all information submitted by the subscriber to USAC, USAC’s agents, the National Lifeline Accountability Database and/or applicable state agencies to ensure the proper administration of the Lifeline program, and failure to provide such consent will result in the subscriber being denied the Lifeline service.
IV. Restrictions and Requirements
a. Lifeline Service Areas. Mercury Broadband Lifeline services are only available for activation by subscribers who reside in certain census blocks in which Mercury Broadband has been designated an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (“ETC”). To receive a subsidized Lifeline discount, a subscriber’s principal residence address must be within a designated census block in a Mercury Broadband ETC service area. Subscribers should call 800-354-4915 to check whether they reside in an eligible area.
b. Toll Calls. Mercury Broadband does not allow calls to 900, 976, and 1010 number and will not accept collect calls. Customers can utilize 911 and 411 services as part of a customer’s local and long-distance services. International services are not available.
c. Nontransferable and Non-assignable. Eligibility for Mercury Broadband Lifeline services is personal and relates to the subscriber individually. Lifeline customers may not transfer to any third party, including a third party that is eligible for Lifeline services, any of the customer’s rights or benefits received under the Lifeline services.
d. Changes to Eligibility. A qualified customer must, after submitting an application to the Lifeline Support center either online or through a printed application, must notify Mercury Broadband of its eligibility within 30 days. A qualified customer receiving Lifeline services must notify Mercury Broadband by submitting a
Lifeline Change Notification/Request Form within 30 days if they no longer qualify for any of the public assistance programs identified in their application form, no longer meet the criteria for income eligibility, if another member of their household receives Lifeline benefits, or if they no longer qualify for Lifeline services for any other reason. Once a customer informs Mercury Broadband that they are no longer eligible for Lifeline services, Mercury Broadband shall unenroll the customer for Lifeline services and discontinue the customer’s Lifeline discount as of the first billing cycle following the effective date of the loss of benefits.
e. Change of Address. A qualified customer receiving Lifeline services must notify Mercury Broadband by submitting a
Lifeline Change Notification/Request Form within 30 days of any change of address. Continued service by Mercury Broadband upon a change of service address is subject to availability of service at the new address and continued receipt of the Lifeline subsidy from Mercury Broadband is subject to the location of the new service address. A change of service address that is not serviceable by Mercury Broadband may be subject to an early termination fee upon disconnect.
f. Annual Recertification. Mercury Broadband customers receiving Lifeline services must certify annually that 1) they are still eligible to receive the Lifeline subsidy and 2) no one else in the household is receiving Lifeline services. If the re-certification process is not completed prior to the expiration of the one-year anniversary of the last approved certification they will lose their Lifeline discount.
g. Unenrollment. If Mercury Broadband determines during the re-certification process, or at any other time, that a customer fails to continue to qualify for Lifeline services, such customer will immediately be deemed ineligible to participate in the Lifeline service and will be unenrolled from the Lifeline service. If a qualified customer fails to complete their recertification by the deadline, they will be unenrolled from Lifeline service. A customer may choose to voluntarily unenroll from the Lifeline service at any time by submitting a Lifeline Change Notification/Request Form (available on our web site at: www.mercurybroadband.com/customer-center/). Upon unenrollment from the Lifeline program for any reason, the customer shall no longer receive the Lifeline discount as of the first billing cycle following the effective date of their unenrollment. Unenrollment from Lifeline Services for any reason will not terminate a customer’s service with Mercury Broadband and termination of a customer’s Mercury’s broadband Internet service may be subject to an early termination fee.
h. Right to Terminate Service. Mercury Broadband reserves the right to cancel the enrollment of any customer and/or permanently deactivate any customer’s service for fraud, misrepresentation or other misconduct as determined solely by the Company. Customer agrees Mercury Broadband’ service will not be used for any other purpose that is not allowed by this agreement, the terms and conditions of Mercury Broadband’ voice service, or that is illegal. Mercury Broadband can, without notice, limit, suspend or end a customer’s service and unenroll a customer from Lifeline services for violating this provision or for any other good cause.