general information

TTY Users

7-1-1 or 1-800-735-2900 (TTY)

7-1-1 or 1-800-735-1232 (Voice)

Voice and hearing-impaired customers still have the option of contacting regular voice service numbers via the relay service in their state. Customers with a standard phone who wish to communicate with a TTY user may do so through the relay service.

Directory Assistance Exemptions For The Handicapped

You may be exempt from the Directory Assistance charge if you are unable to use a phone book on a continuing basis because of a handicap. For further information relating to exemptions, please call your Local Service Provider and your Long-Distance Provider(s).

Information Delivery Services

Information Delivery Services Oregon (IDS), as defined in Oregon Public Utility Commission rules, means any call made to a number with a 976, 960 or 900 prefix where there is a charge for any telephone recorded messages, interactive programs or other information services. This does not include any services provided under a written contract between the customer and the information provider. State laws provide specific rules concerning IDS. Any telephone companies that bill their customers for these services must follow certain procedures. When an information provider fails to comply with applicable rules, any customer obligation from dialing a pay-per-call number is void and unenforceable.

Payment

Your telephone company cannot terminate your local or long-distance service for non-payment of charges for pay-per-call service, according to Oregon law.

Unenforceable Collection Action

State law protects telephone customers from charges resulting from IDS calls made by minor children. Charges for pay-per-call dialing by an unemancipated child under 18 or a mentally or emotionally disordered person if substantiated by a physician are void and unenforceable. Upon written notification to the information provider that a bill for information delivery services is void and unenforceable, no further billing or collection activities shall be undertaken.

Penalties for Damages

Oregon law allows any customer who suffers damages from a violation of the statutes concerning information service providers to take legal action against them. The court may award the greater of three times the actual damages or $500, order an injunction of restitution, and award attorney fees and costs to a prevailing customer.

Blocking

You are entitled to free blocking on your residential telephone line the first time you request it. If you later decide to unblock, you can do so, but you may be charged for any blocking after that. To request blocking of access to IDS on your residential telephone line, call your Local Service Provider.

Lifeline and Link-Up Programs

Tribal Lifeline and Link-Up

If you are a resident living on a federally recognized Tribal reservation, you will pay a reduced rate for basic local service. You are eligible for Tribal Lifeline and Link-Up services if you receive assistance from one of the following programs, Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Head Start, School Lunch Program, Medicaid, Food Stamps, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance, Income at or Below 135% of the Federally Recognized Poverty Guidelines. To apply, you must have established telephone service. Call CenturyLink and advise the representative that you are applying for

Tribal Lifeline service. An application will be mailed to you certifying that you reside on a Federally-Recognized Tribal reservation. Once you have completed the application, return it to the address on the bottom of the application. Credits will be applied to your local telephone bill.

Lifeline Assistance Program

CenturyLink participates in the Lifeline Assistance Program to make residential telephone or broadband service more affordable for eligible low-income individuals and families. This program, established by the Federal Communications Commission, offers discounted basic local service or broadband to qualified customers. Eligible low-income Oregon customers may receive a discount of $12.75 on their monthly bill for residential telephone service a discount of $9.25 on their monthly bill for broadband service. In addition, service deposits are generally waived for customers electing to place toll restriction on their lines. Monthly charges for toll restriction will be waived for customers requesting to have that restriction on their account.

Who Is Eligible?

You may be eligible for Lifeline if you receive one of the following benefits.

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP);

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI);

• Medicaid;

• Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8); or

• Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit

You may also qualify if your total income is at or below 135% of federal poverty guidelines. Proof of eligibility may be required.

Residents who live on federally recognized Tribal Lands may qualify for additional Lifeline benefits if they participate in certain additional federal eligibility programs.