Telephone companies recently have removed 33,000 low-income Minnesota customers from discount programs, under federal rules implemented last year that require customers to recertify their eligibility, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission announced last week.
Lifeline, a federal program, provides up to $9.25 off monthly charges, more for tribal lands residents, according to the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Telephone Assistance Plan, a state program, provides up to $2.50 monthly for home landline service.
Both programs are underutilized, the department said.
Phone companies are responsible for providing recertification forms to customers. For more information, go to www.startribune.com/a2115 or contact your local telephone company.
Star Tribune Recommends
Star Tribune Recommends
Star Tribune Recommends
Star Tribune Recommends
More From Whistleblower
Local
Looking beyond Whistleblower, after six years and 7,000 tips
The Whistleblower column and blog are shutting down, but our commitment remains to investigating tips from readers.
Local
FTC: Immigrants misled by firm
A Baltimore couple and their company were ordered to pay back $616,000 to Spanish-speaking immigrants for immigration services that they were neither qualified nor authorized to provide, the Federal Trade Commission announced last week.
Local
Firm faces heat after "jerk" labels
A company that labeled millions of Facebook users as a "jerk" or "not a jerk" is facing federal scrutiny after the agency said it improperly obtained information to create user profiles.
Local
CenterPoint, Mpls. settle lawsuits over gas explosion near Cub
CenterPoint agreed last week to pay at least $192,500 to settle a lawsuit filed by the City of Minneapolis and various insurance companies after a gas explosion near a south Minneapolis Cub Foods in 2011.
Local
Mortgage firm targeted veterans
A company accused of "mortgage scams" spent at least $2 million for a direct-mail campaign aimed at Minnesota veterans, according to the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
StarTribune.com welcomes and encourages readers to comment and engage in substantive, mutually respectful exchanges over news topics. Commenters must follow our Terms of Use.
Comments will be reviewed before being published.