California Teleconnect Fund Program
The CTF program provides a 50% discount for broadband on select communications services to schools, libraries, hospitals and other non-profit organizations.
The program was established by Decision 96-10-066 on October 25, 1996. In this decision, the California Public Utilities Commission reaffirmed its commitment to universal service, and created the CTF program in accordance with state and federal directives. The program is funded through a surcharge on all customers that purchase intrastate telecommunications services.
Qualified isp.net customers may receive discounts on the services listed below:
- Networking (Point-to-Point)
- High Speed Internet
Eligibility Criteria
CTF customers must qualify under one of the following categories:
Public or Nonprofit Schools: Public schools, nonprofit schools, and schools run by a religious order that are incorporated as a nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation or as a nonprofit Religious Corporation providing elementary or secondary education (grades K-12). Qualified schools may not have endowments of more than $50 million.
Libraries: Libraries that are eligible for participation in state-based funding under the Library Services and Technology Act (“LSTA”). Eligibility for libraries is defined in Act 20 USCA Sec. 9122 (2 and 3), but need not be certified under LSTA for purposes of CTF.
Municipal, County Government or Hospital District Owned and Operated Hospital and Health Clinic: All hospitals and health clinics owned and operated by county, municipal government or hospital districts.
Community Based Organizations (CBOs): Tax exempt organizations offering health care, job training, job placement, educational instruction, or a non-profit CBO operating a community technology center engaged in diffusing technology into a local community, and training a local community that has limited or no access to the Internet and other technologies shall qualify for the discount rate for CBOs or a nonprofit CBO providing 2-1-1 information and referral services. A “tax exempt organization” shall refer to an organization described in Section 501 (c)(3) or 501 (d) of the Internal Revenue Code, Title 26 of the United States Code. CBOs must apply and obtain approval for each location. Certain certification rules apply to CBOs. Please refer to the CPUC web site for more information.
General Information for Receiving the CTF Discounts
Applicants shall provide all information required on the application and return the completed application to the Communications Division (CD) of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for review. CTF discounts will not become effective until the application has been reviewed and approved by CD.
If the application is approved, CD will send an approval letter electronically to the e-mail address provided in the application. It is the responsibility of the approved applicant to contact its service provider within 30 days of the approval date to receive the CTF discount retroactive to the date the application was received by CD, which is the “Date Filed” indicated in the approval letter. If the approved applicant contacts the service provider after 30 days of the approval date, the discount will be effective from the date of the contact. The service provider will ask for a copy of the approval letter. Please note that participation in the CTF program is subject to the availability of program funds, which are administered on a first-come, first-served basis.
If approved applicants add or change subscribed services at any time during their participation in the program, they must inform their service provider at the time changes are made that they are CTF participants in order to receive discounts on any additional services that may be eligible for CTF discounts. The effective date of the discount on any changes to subscribed services will be the date of contact to the service provider. This information is necessary to ensure accurate claims information and timely program payments.
For more information please visit https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/ctf/ or contact CTFHelp@cpuc.ca.gov
