California Teleconnect Fund
The California Teleconnect Fund (CTF) provides qualified organizations a 50% discount on select telecommunications and internet access services in California. Specific discounts for schools and libraries may vary based on application of federal E-rate discounts. Qualified organizations include CA schools, community colleges,libraries, government and district-owned and operated hospitals and health clinics, and community based organizations. More details on qualification criteria and calculating discounts can be found on the California Public Utilities Commission website.
CTF was established in 1996 by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and is funded by the California State Budget through an end-user surcharge on intrastate telecommunications services.
Criteria for Eligibility
CTF organizations must qualify for the discount program in one of the following categories:
California Community Colleges: California community colleges and/or districts.
Community Based Organizations (CBOs): Tax exempt organizations offering health care, job training, job placement, educational instruction, or operating a community technology program which provides access and training ina local community that has limited or no access to the Internet. Also, CBOs or a non profit CBO providing 2-1-1 information and referral services also qualifies. A “tax exempt organization” in this instance is an organization described in Section 501 (c)(3) or 501 (d) of the Internal Revenue Code, Title 26 of the United States Code.
Hospital and Health Clinics Owned and Operated by Municipal, County Government or Hospital District: All hospitals and health clinics owned and operated by county, municipal government or hospital districts.
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 does not have to be certified under LSTA for CTR participation.
Public or Nonprofit Schools: Public schools, nonprofit schools, and religious schools 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.
Applying for CTF Program
In order to receive CTF discounts on eligible services:
- Submit Application to CPUC
All applicants must be approved by the CPUC in order to receive CTF discounts. Go to California Teleconnect Fund and under More CTF Information - download the CTF Application and Instructions. (Please take note - for your request to be approved, your application must contain a physical signature, faxes and photocopies are not accepted).
Complete the CPUC CTF Service Discounts Certification Application and send to:
CPUC, Telecommunications Division
Attention: California Teleconnect Fund
505 Van Ness Avenue, Third Floor
San Francisco, CA 94102
- Send copy of CPUC Approval Letter and completed CTF Discount Request Form
(Guidelines) to BetterWorld Telecom to wecare (at) betterworldtelecom.com. If you are are school or library using services that are eligible for CTF, but which are not eligible for the E-rate discount, you may also submit a CTF eligible vs. E-rate Ineligible Form
(Guidelines ) and submit to wecare (at) betterworldtelecom.com.
- Once you are approved as a CTF-eligible organization, the CPUC will provide you with an approval letter and a copy of your approved application. Send a copy of both the approval letter and discount application along with the CTF Discount Request Form (Guidelines) to BetterWorld Telecom to wecare (at) betterworldtelecom.com.
