Advantage Cellular Systems, Inc., d/b/a DTC Communications (hereinafter referred to as “DTC”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of DeKalb Telephone Cooperative, Inc., has been designated as an “Eligible Telecommunications Carrier” for its service area for universal service purposes. The goal of universal service is to provide all citizens access to essential telecommunications services.
DTC provides the supported services – voice telephony service and broadband Internet access service – within its designated service area. These supported services include:
- Voice grade access to the public switched network;
- Minutes of use for local service provided at no additional charge;
- Access to emergency services such as 911 and enhanced 911; and
- Broadband Internet access service which includes the capability to send data to and receive data from the Internet, but excludes dial-up service.
Voice telephony service is provided at rates which start at $19.00 per month for residential customers and $19.00 per month for business line customers. Broadband Internet access service is provided at rates which start at $30.00 per month for residential customers and $40.00 per month for business customers. DTC would be pleased to provide you with specific rates for voice and broadband for your area upon request. Use of these services may result in added charges including taxes, surcharges, and fees.
DTC also offers qualified customers Lifeline service. Lifeline is a non-transferable, federal benefit that makes monthly voice or broadband service more affordable. The program is limited to one discount per household. Eligible households may apply the monthly Lifeline discount to either broadband service (home or wireless) or voice service (home or wireless) but not both. Lifeline customers also have the option to apply the discount to a service bundle, such as home phone and home internet. The Lifeline voice service also includes toll blocking to qualifying customers without charge. The current discount provided under the Company’s Lifeline service is $9.25 per month for each month that the customer qualifies.
A household is eligible for the Lifeline discount if the customer’s annual household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines. You may also qualify for the Lifeline program if a customer, a dependent, or the customer’s household participates in one or more of the following programs:
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Section 8 Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
- Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit Program
Please call DTC at 615-529-2955 if you have any questions or to inquire about the Lifeline Service Program.