St. Paul, Minnesota — After receiving input from a number of stakeholders, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (“Commission”) approved an increase in the monthly Telephone Assistance Plan credit from $3.50 to $7.00 per month.

 

The Telephone Assistance Plan (TAP) provides a credit to low income landline customers in order to support access to reliable, necessary telephone service. The increased credit will be funded through an increase to the monthly TAP surcharge to $.10 (ten cents) per line.

 

The increases in the credit and the surcharge and will take effect on July 1, 2019.

 

The Commission issued its Order this week in the Docket (#18-112), which can be found on the Commission’s website.

 

In addition, the Commission initiated a Lifeline-TAP Advisory Group in February 2018 in order to address declining enrollment in the state’s TAP program. Commission staff, staff of the Minnesota Department of Commerce, the Office of the Attorney General, and stakeholders representing service providers to low income Minnesotans have been meeting and discussing ways to enhance enrollment in this critical program.

 

Information about the Commission and the Telephone Assistance Plan can be found on the Commission’s website at www.mn.gov/puc or by contacting the agency’s Consumer Affairs Office at consumer.puc@state.mn.us or 800-657-3782 | 651-296-0406.

 

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