CenturyLink Inc. is spreading the word about low-income assistance programs that help qualifying consumers obtain reduced-price voice and high-speed Internet services.

CenturyLink participates in a government benefit program called Lifeline to make residential telephone service more affordable to eligible low-income individuals and families. Qualifying consumers are those who meet eligibility standards defined by the Federal Communications Commission and state public service and utilities commissions.

The Lifeline discount is available for only one telephone line per household, which can be either a wireline or wireless telephone. For the purpose of the Lifeline program, a household is defined as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address and share income and expenses. Lifeline service is not transferable, and only eligible consumers may enroll in the program. Consumers who willfully make false statements in order to obtain Lifeline telephone service can be punished by fine or imprisonment and can be barred from the program.

To find out more about the Lifeline program, please visit the government website at www.lifeline.gov. Individuals living in a CenturyLink service area should call 1-800-366-8201 or visit centurylink.com/lifeline to inquire about Lifeline eligibility.