{"v":{"id":234,"url":"https:\/\/www-s01.apinet.com\/codeforge\/api\/v1\/repos\/apiintl\/hhmanager\/issues\/163","html_url":"https:\/\/www-s01.apinet.com\/codeforge\/apiintl\/hhmanager\/issues\/163","number":163,"user":{"id":1,"login":"charles","login_name":"","source_id":0,"full_name":"Charles Willgren","email":"charles@apinet.com","avatar_url":"https:\/\/www-s01.apinet.com\/codeforge\/avatars\/d3c894f7297c5a18eb3f6ac837c335b11a00aa9cc0961323771632b1e2d61bb2","html_url":"https:\/\/www-s01.apinet.com\/codeforge\/charles","language":"","is_admin":false,"last_login":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","created":"2025-12-08T10:03:41-06:00","restricted":false,"active":false,"prohibit_login":false,"location":"","pronouns":"","website":"","description":"","visibility":"public","followers_count":0,"following_count":0,"starred_repos_count":0,"username":"charles"},"original_author":"","original_author_id":0,"title":"Look into internet-access programs for clients in underserved areas","body":"From Jane (7 Oct 2026):\n\n> Are you aware of the telecommunications laws that required phone companies to provide phone infrastructure to all rural areas? It set a precedent for levelling communications across the country so people in disadvantaged areas had a phone. I thought there was something like that for internet accessibility. Originally targeted at children having access, but now I'm wondering if it would help elderly people in disadvantaged areas. It would make a difference for home health care.\n\n**Starting points (to verify before telling anyone):**\n\n- **Universal Service Fund** (Telecommunications Act of 1996, building on the 1934 Act's universal-service goal) pays for the programs below.\n- **E-Rate**: the schools and libraries program, probably the \"children\" one Jane remembers.\n- **Lifeline** (FCC): a monthly discount on phone or internet for low-income households. **Medicaid enrollment qualifies**, so most of our clients may already be eligible.\n- **Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)**: a larger internet discount that ran out of funding and ended in mid-2024.\n\n**Why it matters here:** clients receiving and signing forms online depends on them having a connection. See #121 (record whether the client can receive forms online) and #123 (clients without a smartphone).\n\n**Possible action:** a question at the visit (\"Would you like help applying for Lifeline?\") or a handout, if the customer wants it.","ref":"","assets":[],"labels":[{"id":33,"name":"action","exclusive":false,"is_archived":false,"color":"d97706","description":"Action item tracked on the Connect dashboard","url":"https:\/\/www-s01.apinet.com\/codeforge\/api\/v1\/repos\/apiintl\/hhmanager\/labels\/33"},{"id":4,"name":"question","exclusive":false,"is_archived":false,"color":"cc317c","description":"Open question, closes when answered","url":"https:\/\/www-s01.apinet.com\/codeforge\/api\/v1\/repos\/apiintl\/hhmanager\/labels\/4"}],"milestone":null,"assignee":null,"assignees":null,"state":"open","is_locked":false,"comments":0,"created_at":"2026-10-07T13:40:43-05:00","updated_at":"2026-10-07T13:40:43-05:00","closed_at":null,"due_date":null,"pull_request":null,"repository":{"id":27,"name":"hhmanager","owner":"apiintl","full_name":"apiintl\/hhmanager"},"pin_order":0}}