Safe Connections Act Public Notice

What is the Safe Connections Act (“SCA”)?

The SCA is a law protecting survivors of abuse. Alongside Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) rules, it lets adult survivors (18 years or older) secretly separate their phone lines from a multi-line account they are on with their abuser. Survivors may also separate out their dependents’ lines, and may be eligible for emergency financial support.

How can a survivor use the Safe Connections Act’s processes here?

The survivor must complete the form at http://dish-assist.freshdesk.com/ to request an SCA line separation. The survivor will need information including an email address unassociated with the abuser; the account owner’s contact information; proof of covered abuse; and an affidavit for any dependents’ lines the survivor also wants separated. Please see the form for details. Note that the survivor becomes financially responsible for any phone accounts as soon as they have been separated, and for any devices the survivor keeps after the separation.

A designated representative may complete the form for the survivor if they also provide their name and proof of their relationship to the survivor.

Which service options are available to survivors?

A survivor may switch to any of our commercially available plans (whether prepaid or postpaid) if the survivor qualifies for the plan. An agent will help with your plan selection.

Will there be additional penalties or fees?

No. A carrier cannot make a line separation conditioned on imposing additional penalties, fees, or other requirements or limitations that the SCA prohibits.

Are there separations that are impossible at this time?

No. Our agents will let you know if any technical or operational issues arise with your request.

Do I qualify for emergency communications support through the Lifeline program?

The SCA provides for six-months of emergency communications support through the Lifeline program for qualifying survivors. To qualify, you must be experiencing “financial hardship,” which means you participate in certain federal assistance programs, or your household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Visit https://www.fcc.gov/general/lifeline-program-low-income-consumers to learn more about the Lifeline program, including if you could qualify for Lifeline support other than emergency communications support.

You may also be eligible for other FCC financial support programs. Visit this page to learn more: https://www.fcc.gov/general/telecommunications-access-policy-division