Lifeline in Florida

The Atlanta-Journal Constitution:

Lifeline is paid for by the federal Universal Service Fund, created to make sure everyone has a land-line telephone regardless of where they live or how much they make. The monthly discount is made up of $7 of federal money, $3 of state money and $3.50 from BellSouth, Embarq, Verizon and other telephone companies that provide local phone service in Florida.

The phone companies can be reimbursed through the service fund for some of their contributions, but not for the $3.50 they pay for each Lifeline customer each month.

Marshall Criser III, president of BellSouth's Florida territory, said his company has increased efforts this year to find residents who need phone service.