PowerPoint Presentation

							   Link-Up and Lifeline
   Telephone Assistance Workshop



April 11, 2006
 KMR Opinion on What Florida’s
 Link-Up and Lifeline Goals Should Be


•Increase public awareness of Lifeline and Link-Up telephone
assistance services.


•Engage effective outreach initiatives reaching Florida eligibles and
increasing the number of enrolled Lifeline recipients to reach the
national average Lifeline participation level.


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  Link-Up and Lifeline Outreach
  Efforts Performed by KMR

 Launched Florida’s Lifeline/Link-Up National School Lunch Program in all 67
   counties with coordinated placement of Lifeline brochures in 2.6 million back-
   to-school student packets



 Designed Lifeline/Link-Up National School Lunch Program brochure and
   initial implementation plan for 67 school districts




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Link-Up and Lifeline Outreach
Efforts Performed by KMR (continued)
                     Lifeline/Link-Up Applications Received

            1,800
            1,600
            1,400
            1,200
            1,000
              800
              600
              400
              200
                0
                    OCT   DEC      FEB       APR   JUN      AUG
                 2004           2005               National School
                                                   Lunch Program
                                                   Brochures Distributed
 Source: Florida Public Service Commission                                 4
Link-Up and Lifeline Outreach Efforts
Performed by KMR (continued)
 Followed school district placements of Lifeline/Link-Up National School
   Lunch Program Information in student packets, performed troubleshooting,
   identified and implemented necessary program changes and modifications



 Identified and coordinated distribution of more than 11,000 Lifeline/Link-Up
   brochures for statewide clients of government human service agencies




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Link-Up and Lifeline Outreach Efforts
Performed by KMR (continued)
 Coordinated 4 Lifeline/Link-Up National School Lunch Program media
   events:

     Statewide Press Conference

     Marion County

     Leon County

     Walton County

 Wrote and placed Lifeline education and awareness news articles in
   statewide minority (African-American and Hispanic) newspapers
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Barriers that Discourage or Prevent
People from Enrolling in Lifeline
   Unaware of Link-Up and Lifeline Telephone Assistance Programs

   Distrust of assistance programs for low-income as provided by
    government and telephone industry

   Belief by low-income consumers that their finances and credit will not
    qualify them for telephone service

   Link-up and Lifeline program enrollment access challenges in rural and
    small communities


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Suggestions on How to Increase
Enrollment in Lifeline
Expand outreach initiatives including:
 More aggressive consumer communications and education to increase
   statewide Link-Up and Lifeline Program awareness

 Further work with schools to reach families through the National School
  Free Breakfast and Lunch programs and to determine Lifeline program
  participation and benefits that may be derived through program
  integration in Florida

 Develop on-line or electronic means of enrollment and verification to
  minimize the burdens on telephone companies and applicant households.


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Suggestions on How to Increase
Enrollment in Lifeline (continued)
 Deploy electronic sharing of Lifeline enrollment information between
  telecoms and a third-party administrator to further identify households
  eligible for enrollment

 Develop more intimate Lifeline enrollment working relationship with
  Florida Departments of Elder Affairs and Department of Revenue, Child
  Support Enforcement

 Share Lifeline program information electronically with the state agencies
  that operate various low-income assistance programs


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Specific Successes or Failures
regarding Lifeline Outreach
Successful Lifeline Outreach Initiatives:
 DCF outreach:
        Mass mailing assisting Lifeline Program launch
        Client notices
        New client data exchange
 National School Lunch Program Back-to-School Initiative
 Connect Florida Campaign
 Various media campaigns

Lifeline Outreach Failure:
 Insufficient consumer program awareness

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Contact Information

      FOR MORE INFO...

 KMR Consultants, LLC
 Linda Dilworth, Chief Operating Officer
 3065 Highland Oaks Terrace
 Tallahassee, Florida 32301
 LindaD@kmrconsultants.com
 850.222.3768 (office)
 850.561.0397 (fax)
 www.kmrconsultants.com




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