Some New Mexicans may have been dropped by mistake from a federal program that aims to help people pay their phone bills.
"There was a big push after reports of fraud in the program to create a system where they could safeguard against that," said Mike Ripperger, telecommunications bureau chief with the state's Public Regulation Commission.
Ripperger said folks may have been disconnected after an audit revealed some people signed up for more than one phone line per household by using different . That鈥檚 against the rules.
"The person finds out one day that their cell phone doesn鈥檛 work or otherwise that their landline doesn鈥檛 work," he said. "And so there鈥檚 a process鈥攖hey鈥檙e trying to get ahold of the company. And they don鈥檛 understand sometimes."
It鈥檚 not clear how many people were kicked off the Lifeline program during the purge.
But some subscribers may have been dropped by mistake. If that鈥檚 you, the Consumer Relations Division of the PRC can help you re-enroll.
Call 1-888-4ASK-PRC.
