A resolution requesting the Metropolitan Social Services Commission and the Metropolitan Action Commission to add the advertisement of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority Link-up and Lifeline Telephone Assistance Programs and the Telecommunications Devices Access Program to the list of programs available for low-income and visual/speech impaired persons.

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Social Services Commission provides services and programming for citizens of Nashville and Davidson County challenged by economic, social, physical or behavioral problems; and

WHEREAS, part of the mission statement of the Metropolitan Social Services Commission is to promote “quality living in our communities by linking people, information and resources”; and

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Action Commission was created by ordinance in 1964 to help indigent individuals and families improve the quality of their lives by advocating the needs of the poor; and

WHEREAS, in order to ensure that telephone service is available to and affordable to low-income telephone subscribers, the Tennessee Regulatory Authority has established the Link-up and Lifeline program, which pays one-half of the installation charges for new telephone service for qualified persons, and saves qualified telephone subscribers up to $13.00 a month on the local service portion of their telephone bill; and

WHEREAS, the Telecommunications Devices Access Program was established by public act in 1999, to be implemented through the Tennessee Regulatory Authority, to distribute appropriate telecommunications devices to persons who are deaf, deaf and blind, or severely speech impaired, so that they may effectively use basic telephone service; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Social Services Commission and the Metropolitan Action Commission include these programs offered by the Tennessee Regulatory Authority in their lists of programs available to low-income and visual/speech impaired persons.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting the Metropolitan Social Services Commission and the Metropolitan Action Commission to add the advertisement of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority Link-up and Lifeline Telephone Assistance Programs and the Telecommunications Devices Access Program to the list of programs available for low-income and visual/speech impaired persons.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a certified copy of this Resolution to Dorothy Shell-Berry – Executive Director of the Metropolitan Social Services Commission, to Cynthia L. Croom – Executive Director of the Metropolitan Action Commission, and each member of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Social Services Commission and Metropolitan Action Commission.

Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Carolyn Baldwin Tucker