Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the website free-phone-registration.cfcofala.org and cfcofala.org, and any related pages, forms, and services (collectively, the "Site") operated by Caring for Citizens of Alabama, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization ("Organization," "we," "us," or "our"). By submitting the eligibility form, calling our listed phone number, visiting our physical location, or otherwise using the Site, you agree to be bound by these Terms and by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated by reference. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use the Site.

You must be at least 18 years old, or the age of majority in your state, and have the legal authority to enter into these Terms on behalf of your household to use the Site or submit an application.

2. Description of Services

The Organization provides free, no-cost assistance to eligible low-income Alabama residents in applying for phone and internet service benefits available through the federal Lifeline program, administered by the FCC and USAC.

Important - please read carefully:

• The Organization is not the Lifeline program itself, is not a government agency, and is not, unless separately and explicitly stated in writing, an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC).
• The Organization acts as a local navigation, outreach, and application-assistance partner, helping you gather documentation, understand eligibility requirements, and submit your application to the appropriate Lifeline service provider and/or the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) via USAC.
• Final approval of any Lifeline benefit, device, or service plan is determined solely by the applicable telecommunications carrier and/or USAC, not by the Organization. Submitting an eligibility form or completing a verification call does not guarantee approval, a specific device, or a specific service plan.
• Devices, minutes, data allowances, and service terms described on the Site are illustrative of typical current offerings and are subject to change by the carrier without notice.

3. Eligibility and Application Process

To be considered for Lifeline benefits through our assistance program, you must:

• Reside in the state of Alabama at the address provided;
• Meet at least one federal Lifeline qualifying criterion (for example, participation in SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or household income at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines, or another program recognized by USAC);
• Provide accurate, truthful, and current information on the eligibility form and during the verification call, including a valid form of identification and documentation supporting your qualifying benefit or income;
• Not already be receiving a Lifeline benefit at your household, as only one Lifeline benefit is permitted per household under federal law.

You are solely responsible for the accuracy of the information you submit. Providing false, fraudulent, or misleading information to obtain a Lifeline benefit is a violation of federal law and may result in criminal penalties, denial of benefits, and/or repayment obligations, independent of any action by the Organization.

4. Consent to Be Contacted

By submitting the eligibility form on the Site, you affirmatively consent to be contacted by the Organization and its representatives by telephone call, text message (SMS), and email at the phone number and email address you provide - including by automatic telephone dialing system and/or prerecorded or artificial voice - for purposes related to verifying your Lifeline eligibility, completing your application, and providing customer support.

• Consent to be contacted is not a condition of eligibility for, or receipt of, any Lifeline benefit.
• Message and data rates may apply based on your existing mobile carrier and plan.
• You may withdraw consent to future contact at any time by replying STOP to any text message, informing a representative during a call that you wish to stop receiving communications, or contacting us using the information in Section 17 below.
• Withdrawing consent to marketing or follow-up contact does not withdraw or cancel an application already in progress; you may need to contact us directly to complete or check the status of that application through another method.

This Section 4 works together with, and does not replace, the separate consent checkbox presented on the eligibility form at the time of submission.

5. Fees; No Cost to Apply

There is no cost or fee to use the Site, to submit an eligibility application, or to receive assistance from the Organization. If approved for the Lifeline program and enrolled with a qualifying carrier, the approved household pays $0 per month for the qualifying service, subject to the carrier's own terms, fair-use policies, and the requirement described in Section 6 below. The Organization does not charge for devices, shipping, activation, or verification calls under this program.

6. Ongoing Use Requirements

Federal Lifeline rules generally require that an enrolled line be used (for example, by placing a call, sending a text, or using data) at least once during each calendar month, or the service may be suspended or deactivated by the carrier for non-usage, in accordance with FCC and USAC rules then in effect. The Organization does not control, and is not responsible for, a carrier's deactivation of service due to non-usage or other carrier-specific policies.

7. Website Use and Prohibited Conduct

When using the Site, you agree that you will not:

• Submit false, fraudulent, or another person's information without their knowledge and authorization;
• Attempt to apply for or receive more than one Lifeline benefit per household, or assist another person in doing so improperly;
• Use any automated system, script, or bot to access the Site or submit forms;
• Attempt to interfere with, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access to the Site, its servers, or any connected systems;
• Use the Site for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable local, state, or federal law.

We reserve the right to refuse service, decline to process an application, or report suspected fraud to the appropriate carrier, USAC, or law enforcement authorities.

8. Intellectual Property

All content on the Site - including text, graphics, logos, the Organization's name and branding, and the layout and design of the Site - is the property of the Organization or its licensors and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from the Site's content without our prior written permission, except as necessary to use the Site for its intended purpose (i.e., submitting an application).

9. Third-Party Carriers and Services

The Organization works with one or more third-party telecommunications carriers to facilitate Lifeline enrollment. Those carriers have their own terms of service, privacy policies, network coverage, and device warranties, which govern the actual phone and service plan you receive if approved. The Organization is not a party to, and is not responsible for, the terms, performance, coverage, or customer service of any third-party carrier.

The Site may also contain links to third-party websites or resources. These links are provided for convenience only. The Organization does not endorse, and is not responsible or liable for, the content, accuracy, or practices of any third-party websites. You access third-party links at your own risk.

10. Disclaimers

The site and all assistance services are provided "as is" and "as available," without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. We do not warrant that:

• (A) You will be approved for any Lifeline benefit;
• (B) The Site will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free; or
• (C) Any device or service provided by a third-party carrier will meet your expectations or be free of defects.

Some jurisdictions do not allow certain warranty exclusions, so some of the above limitations may not apply to you.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Organization, its officers, directors, employees, volunteers, and agents will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses, arising out of or related to your use of, or inability to use, the Site or the application-assistance services, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages. Our total liability to you for any claim arising from these Terms or your use of the Site will not exceed $100.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages, so some of the above limitations may not apply to you.

12. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Organization and its officers, directors, employees, volunteers, and agents from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to: (a) your use of the Site; (b) any information you submit through the Site, including any false, inaccurate, or misleading information; (c) your violation of these Terms; or (d) your violation of any applicable law or the rights of any third party.

The Organization reserves the right, at its own expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you, in which case you will cooperate fully with the Organization in asserting any available defenses.

13. Severability and Waiver

If any provision of these Terms is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, that provision will be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, or, if modification is not possible, will be severed from these Terms. The remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

The Organization's failure or delay in enforcing any right or provision of these Terms will not constitute a waiver of that right or provision. A waiver of any particular breach or default will not constitute a waiver of any subsequent breach or default.

14. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy (incorporated herein by reference), constitute the entire agreement between you and the Organization with respect to your use of the Site and the application-assistance services, and supersede all prior or contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations, or warranties, whether written or oral, regarding the same subject matter.

15. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our services, applicable law, or Lifeline program rules. The Effective Date at the top of this page will reflect the date of the most recent revision. We will make reasonable efforts to notify you of material changes (for example, by posting a notice on the Site). Continued use of the Site after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

If you disagree with a revised version of these Terms, you should stop using the Site and contact us if you have an active application in progress.

16. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Alabama, without regard to its conflict-of-law principles. Any dispute arising from these Terms or your use of the Site will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Montgomery County, Alabama, and you hereby consent to personal jurisdiction in those courts.

17. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, would like to withdraw consent to contact, or need help with your application, please reach us at: