St. Paul, Minnesota —Beginning April 1, the monthly TAP discount for eligible landline telephone customers will increase from $7.00 to $10.00. Consumers residing on Tribal lands are eligible for an additional benefit of $25.00. Minnesotans experiencing hardship paying their landline telephone bill should contact their telephone service provider for information regarding eligibility for TAP. Consumers can find the TAP application here . If further assistance is needed, contact the PUC Consumer Affairs Office at 651-296-0406, or 1-800-657-3782. Email at consumer.puc@state.mn.us.

TAP is a state program administered by the PUC that gives financial support to low-income landline telephone subscribers through discounts or bill credits. TAP is funded through a monthly surcharge collected by local telephone service providers on a per-access line basis from their customers. During its December 23, 2020, regular agenda meeting, the PUC approved additional financial support for low-income telephone subscribers, as well as the approval of a reduction of the TAP monthly surcharge from $0.10 to $0.07.

About

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission regulates three cornerstone service industries in Minnesota's economy: electricity, natural gas, and telephone service. The Commission’s mission is to create and maintain a regulatory environment that ensures safe, adequate, and efficient utility services at fair, reasonable rates consistent with State telecommunications and energy policies. It does so by providing independent, consistent, professional, and comprehensive oversight and regulation of utility service providers. Learn more at mn.gov/puc

Please contact Will Seuffert, 651-201-2217 or will.seuffert@state.mn.us if you have any questions.

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