FAQs for DDTP/CTAP Wireless Technology Pilot Program

1. What is the DDTP/CTAP Wireless Technology Pilot Program?

It is a pilot program of the State of California which, working with T-Mobile and Fuse Wireless, provides a Sidekick ID to pilot participants at no cost for equipment. However, participants are responsible for the monthly service charge and any usage charges not covered by the service plan, as well as any applicable taxes and fees. For the duration of the trial only, there will be no activation fee or early termination fee for pilot participants.

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2. Will there be any cost to me to participate in this pilot program?

The Sidekick ID (i.e., the device itself) is provided to you through this wireless pilot program at no cost. However, you will be responsible for the $29.95 monthly service charge and any individual usage charges (e.g., voice calls and downloads) not covered by the service plan, as well as any applicable taxes and fees.

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3. What are the eligibility criteria for participation in the DDTP/CTAP Sidekick ID wireless pilot program?

First, the individual must be certified to receive CTAP equipment. If you are not CTAP-certified, please contact CTAP at 1-866-845-8761 (Voice) or 1-510-271-8438 (TTY) to find out how you can be enrolled into the program.  Secondly, you must be certified or eligible to participate in the California Universal LifeLine Telephone Service (ULTS or California LifeLine) program. This program is limited to low income individuals. If you are not sure whether you qualify for the program, please contact your local telephone company.

You may show your eligibility for the program AND qualify for the Sidekick ID during the field trial with one of the following:

• Phone Bill
• Medicaid/Medi-Cal
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance or Section 8
• Food Stamps
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Healthy Families Category A
• National School Lunch's FREE Lunch Program (NSL)
• Tribal TANF
• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
• Women, Infant and Children Program (WIC)
• Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only)

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4. How do I enroll in the program?

To request a Wireless Technology Pilot Program Application, call 1-866-845-8761 (Voice) or 1-510-271-8438 (TTY) or email wirelessinfo@ddtp.org.  Once you receive/download your application, complete it and send it along with a recent copy of your phone bill to:
DDTP/CTAP Customer Contact Dept.
505 Fourteenth Street, Suite 400, Oakland CA 94612
Fax: 1-510-271-8324

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5. How do I sign up for the LifeLine program if I am not currently LifeLine-certified?

There two ways to qualify for California LifeLine.  See below, or visit the CPUC website at http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/puc/telco/public+programs/ults.htm for information.

1) Program-Based 
You can qualify for California LifeLine if you or another person in your household is enrolled in any one of the following public-assistance programs:

• Medicaid/Medi-Cal; Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); Supplemental Security Income (SSI); Federal Public Housing Assistance or Section 8; Food Stamps; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); Healthy Families Category A; National School Lunch's FREE Lunch Program (NSL); Tribal TANF; Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance; Women, Infant and Children Program (WIC); Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only)

2) Income-Based
You can also qualify for California LifeLine if your total household income is at or less than these income maximums: 

In order to qualify for California LifeLine based on household income, you will need to provide documents proving that your total household income is at or below the income maximum for your household size.  Income documents include:

• Prior year's state, federal, or tribal tax return; Income statements or paycheck stubs for three consecutive months within the calendar year; Statement of benefits from Social Security, Veterans Administration, retirement/pension, unemployment and/or workmen's compensation; Divorce decree; Child support document; Other official documents

Two Steps to Enroll:

1. If you think you meet the above qualifications, contact your telephone company and tell them you want to enroll in LifeLine.  If the telephone company can verbally qualify you, they will enroll you in LifeLine immediately.
   
   
2. Within two to three weeks California LifeLine will mail to you, in a PINK envelope, an enrollment form.  In order to maintain your telephone discounts, you must complete and sign the form, and return it to California LifeLine along with any required income documentation by the due date.  If you fail to return the completed signed form to California LifeLine by the due date, you will be disqualified.  In addition, your telephone company will bill you for any discounts you may have received.

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6. What is the cut-off date for signing up for the pilot program?

Feburary 29, 2008 is the target cut-off date for the initial signing up for the wireless pilot program. It is highly recommended however that you send your application in well ahead of the Feburary 29, 2008 cut-off date to ensure that CTAP will be in receipt of your application.

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7. When will I hear from CTAP regarding my application?

You will hear from CTAP within ten business days after we receive your application.

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8. How can I get a Sidekick ID once enrolled in the pilot program?

CTAP will be hosting Sidekick ID distribution days for two days at the Fresno, Sacramento, and Santa Ana CTAP service centers. When you are approved for the wireless pilot program, you will be sent information about when to attend the Sidekick ID distribution days at one of these three service centers: Fresno, Sacramento, or Santa Ana.

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9. What if I cannot attend one of the Sidekick ID distribution days scheduled for pilot participants?

 It is highly recommended that you attend the distribution days at the service centers. Distribution and orientation will be provided during the day and evening on two separate days. However, you can email wirelessinfo@ddtp.org to inquire about the possibility of alternative arrangements.

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10. You say that this is a pilot program. When does the pilot program end? And if I like my T-Mobile Sidekick ID, can I keep it if I agree to continue paying the monthly fee?

The term of the wireless pilot program is one year. At the end of the wireless pilot program, we will provide you the option to convert to a regular T-Mobile Sidekick customer plan. There will be an email address and a toll-free number for you to contact T-Mobile with questions.

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11. Once the pilot program ends, can I keep my T-Mobile Sidekick ID?

Because it is not certain that there will be a permanent program run by CTAP after the wireless pilot program ends, you can either convert your Sidekick ID to a regular T-Mobile customer plan or you must return it using the pre-printed, pre-paid mailing label in the original packaging box.

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12. Is there an activation or early termination fee?

No.  For the duration of the wireless pilot program only, the activation and early termination fees will be waived.

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13. What if I find I can no longer afford to pay the monthly service charge, or decide to end my participation in the pilot program before its conclusion?

If you can no longer pay your monthly bill or decide to stop participating in the wireless pilot program, you must return the Sidekick ID using the pre-printed, pre-paid mailing label included in the original packaging box.  Please note that a handling fee will be applied if the device is returned damaged or in an otherwise unacceptable condition. 

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14. If I have Customer Care questions about the T-Mobile Sidekick ID, who should I contact?  Would it be the T-Mobile Customer Care number I have seen?

For this wireless pilot program, there will be special Customer Care contact that is familiar with the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing customers. We urge you to contact T-Mobile’s toll-free TTY Customer Care at 1-877-296-1018 for assistance with questions about your bill or the equipment.

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15. Will I be able to make voice calls?

The Sidekick ID devices used for the wireless pilot program will be provided without a voice plan. However, if you add a voice plan to the T-Mobile Sidekick ID, and if any voice calls are made on the device, you will be charged $0.20 per minute or any fraction thereof. These voice charges will be in addition to the monthly service charge.  International calling is not permitted.

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16. In addition to text messaging, what special features are on this handset for people who are deaf?

This T-Mobile Sidekick ID service plan provides you with unlimited e-mail, AOL® Instant Messenger™, Web browsing, and text messaging. In addition, to assist persons with hearing disabilities, this T-Mobile Sidekick ID has been pre-loaded with IP-Relay, a free and popular tool that allows you to text a relay operator with a 10-digit number and have that operator conduct a text-to-voice chat with the hearing party you wish to call. The operator will convert your text to voice and type back to you what the called party says in response.

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17. Can the text be adjusted for Sidekick IDs?

No, the text cannot be adjusted for Sidekick IDs. We hope to introduce this feature in the near future. Keep your eyes open for announcements on www.ddtp.org regarding new features such as text adjustment capabilities.

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18. What happens if my Sidekick ID device is damaged?

We urge you to contact T-Mobile’s toll-free TTY Customer Care at 1-877-296-1018 for assistance with your device if it is damaged. You will be sent a package with a self-addressed, postage-paid envelope to return the damaged device.                 

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19. Why do you need my Social Security Number for the wireless pilot program?

Your Social Security number is being used to check to see if you are currently a T-Mobile customer and/or owe an outstanding balance to T-Mobile.  The CTAP Wireless Pilot Program is for persons who are not current T-Mobile wireless customers.  CTAP will not retain this info.

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20. Do I need to provide feedback about my experience with the Sidekick ID and DDTP/CTAP pilot program?

Yes, you will be asked to provide feedback on a monthly basis about your experience with the Sidekick ID and wireless pilot program. You will receive a form to be filled out on a monthly basis. We require that you send your completed form to us on the last day of each month.

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21. If I like the Sidekick ID, can I add my family or friends to this pilot program?

No. This wireless pilot program is only for a limited number of individuals who have been certified as having met the program’s eligibility criteria.

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