Friends, It’s been a week of classic “Michigan weather,” so I hope you were all able to stay safe. I have included some information about consumer alerts to help you navigate any situation you may face during the rest of this winter. Featured in this newsletter is an invitation to join the Be The Match Registry, some reminders from Attorney General Dana Nessel about how to avoid damages due to inclement weather, and information on how you may be eligible for assistance with paying your home internet bill. Should you need any help, please do not hesitate to contact my office by phone at (517) 373-8360 or by email at SenPWojno@senate.michigan.gov. Warmest regards, |
Paul Wojno State Senator JOIN THE BE THE MATCH® REGISTRY Did you know that every three minutes, someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer? Thousands of patients with blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, or other diseases like sickle cell, need a blood stem cell transplant to survive. Most patients don’t have a fully matched donor in their family — and that’s when they turn to Be The Match®. By joining the Be The Match Registry®, your genetic type will be included in the search process for every patient in need of a genetically matched donor. Please be aware of the age guidelines: For the safety of patients, only members between the ages of 18 and 40 are accepted because studies have shown that blood stem cells from younger donors provide better long-term survival rates for patients. You can join in person at a donor registry drive or online, and learn more about this program, at my.BeTheMatch.org. AG NESSEL REISSUES CONSUMER ALERTS AMID TURBULENT WEATHER Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is sharing important reminders as many Michiganders face weather-related damage and repairs. Last week, ice jams caused flooding in some communities and heavy snowfall contributed to accidents, while forecasted heavy rains prompted flood advisories today. In response, Nessel has reissued her consumer alert focused on researching home repair contractors and offers to avoid being scammed in the event the recent weather creates damage to residences. Nessel is also reissuing her consumer alert on vehicle towing, which explains the process of complaining about unreasonable fees in certain situations. It’s important to note that if a complaint involves a circumstance where a tow was directed by the police or a private property owner, and you want to contest the tow and unreasonable fees, you need to file a petition for a court hearing. The Attorney General may not represent you in court. If you or the secured party do not retrieve the vehicle or request a hearing within 20 days, it may be sold at a public auction, and you lose all rights to the vehicle. The Department provides a library of resources for consumers to review anytime on a variety of topics. Consumer complaints can be filed online at the Attorney General’s website, or if you have questions call 877-765-8388. MICHIGANDERS CAN APPLY FOR HELP PAYING FOR HOME INTERNET BILL Eligible Michiganders may qualify for monthly assistance toward paying their monthly home internet bill under the federal Affordable Connectivity Program, and the Michigan Public Service Commission is sharing information to make it easy to determine your eligibility and sign up for the benefit. The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a $14.2 billion program that succeeds the previous Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program. Through the ACP, eligible households can receive up to $30 off their monthly broadband bill — $75 for those living on qualifying tribal lands. The transition period between the EBB and the new ACP ends March 1, so it’s important for existing beneficiaries to take steps to ensure that they’ll continue to receive the benefit. And it’s important to note that under the new ACP, the monthly amount of the benefit drops from $50 to $30 but remains at $75 for those on qualifying Tribal lands. Participating broadband providers also may offer discounts on internet-enabled devices such as tablet computers; see your provider for details. Here’s how to determine your eligibility and, if you qualify, apply for the benefit: Am I eligible? One ACP discount is available per eligible household. A household is eligible if one member of the household meets one or more of the following criteria:
How do I sign up? Most Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) participants who were enrolled by Dec. 31, 2021, will automatically be enrolled in the new Affordable Connectivity Program and will not have to take additional steps to receive the ACP benefit. If you’re unsure of your status, contact your broadband provider to verify whether you’ll continue to receive the ACP benefit after March 1 or need to reapply. If you’re new to the Affordable Connectivity Program, there are three ways to apply:
If you are currently a Lifeline phone or broadband benefit subscriber, you may not need to reapply. Contact your provider for more information. |
As an elected representative, I believe in being readily available and transparent because my office is your office. |