For Immediate Release – June 4, 2013
Contact: Nathan Conrad, (608) 266-9600
Nathan.Conrad@wisconsin.gov
[Madison, Wis.] – Today at its open meeting, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin approved grants for 12 applicants as part of the agency’s Non-Profit Access Program. The grants approved today are paid for through the state’s Universal Service Fund.
The purpose of the grant program is to facilitate affordable access to telecommunications services to low-income, elderly or disabled residents of the state of Wisconsin.
The 12 grants approved today together total more than $341,000, an increase of $18,000 over the grants given in Fiscal Year 2012. The 12 Non-Profit organizations service residents in all 72 counties of Wisconsin.
Following is a list of all grants awarded:
$13,600 awarded to ABC for Health, Inc. of Madison, provides outreach and educational training to Wisconsin’s five regional centers for children and youth with special needs to residents eligible for Lifeline and other telecommunications services.
$30,000 awarded to Access to Independence, Inc. of Madison, provides outreach and access to individuals in four Southern Wisconsin counties to obtain equipment and equal access to essential telecommunications services.
$9,000 awarded to Center for Communication, Hearing and Deafness of West Allis, provides co-payment assistance, training, in-home visits and follow-up support to ensure access to the TEPP program for clients who require captioned telephone service.
$20,000 awarded to Center for Independent Living for Western Wisconsin of Menomonie, provides outreach and services for individuals with disabilities to access essential telecommunications services with the TEPP program through marketing and assistance with applications and identification of telecommunication devices that meet their needs.
$13,000 awarded to Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin, Inc. of Madison, provides low-income households with financial assistance to obtain and maintain telecommunications services including budget counseling, referrals to Lifeline and mediation with telecommunications service providers.
$75,000 awarded to Community Advocates of Milwaukee, provides assistance to low-income households to establish and maintain basic telephone service.
$35,000 awarded to Independent Living Resources, Inc. of La Crosse, provides outreach, education, technical assistance and training to disabled and low-income individuals needing telecommunications services and assistive devices in 13 West-central and Southwest counties.
$15,340 awarded to New Concept Self Development Center of Milwaukee, provides training and continuous access to basic telecommunications service for low-income residents.
$46,717 awarded to North Country Independent Living of Superior, provides outreach and assistance to residents on specialized telecommunication equipment in eight Northern rural counties and four tribal communities.
$22,500 awarded to Options for Independent Living of Green Bay, provides outreach and assistance on specialized telecommunications equipment and training on how to obtain affordable access to essential telecommunications services to elderly and disabled residents in 17 counties and four tribal communities.
$55,000 awarded to Society’s Assets of Racine, provides outreach to disabled residents and expanded outreach to the community to assist with assessing telecommunication needs, assisting with TEPP applications, and co-pay assistance and equipment training.
$6,000 awarded to Midstate Independent Living Consultants of Stevens Point, provides outreach and assistance to low-income housing units, residential facilities, in-home demonstrations, TEPP, and equipment installation and training assistance.
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