New Phone Service and Charges

Type of line-What type of line would you like?

Residential Basic Local Service (BLS)

Unlimited Local Calling for as low as $17.65 per month (The Local Calling Scope includes the four exchanges of Riviera, Loyola Beach, Sarita, and Armstrong Exchanges). Toll restriction charges are applicable. If you qualify for Life-Line Service, your BLS rates will be less.

Residential Basic Local Service with Long Distance

Unlimited Local Calling Scope for as low as $16.15 per month. You may choose a long Distance carrier of your choice and toll charges will appear on your phone bill monthly and/or you may be billed separately. If you qualify for Life-Line Service, your BLS rates will be less.

(You have several carriers from which to choose, a list of which you can access on this website.)

Lifeline Service

Unlimited Local Calling Scope for as low as $3.25 per month (with toll restriction service). The Local Calling Scope includes the four exchanges of Riviera, Loyola Beach, Sarita, and Armstrong Exchanges. Customers must qualify for this type of service. See details below.

How do I know if I qualify?

Lifeline Service and Link-up programs that offer you discounts on your monthly local telephone bill and on one-time installation charges have the following qualification rules. There are a variety of programs for which you may qualify.

If you live in Texas, the following programs will qualify you to receive regular lifeline, the deeper-discounted USA Lifeline program, and Link-up benefits:

Regular Lifeline

Food Stamps
Medicaid
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Federal Public Housing/Section 8 Assistance
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Income at 125% or below Federal Poverty level

If you need additional information or feel you qualify, please call our Customer Sales and Service Center at 361-296-3232 to place your New Service order.

Jacks and Wiring

 RTC is only responsible for providing dial tone up to the demarcation point at your residence; you are responsible for the wiring, jacks, and telephones inside the home. That could mean that one or more jacks might not work as you expect.

 

You have the option of doing inside wiring yourself, hiring someone to do it, or having RTC do it. The charge to activate a non-working jack or install a new jack is $60.00 for the first wire run, $35.00 for each additional wire run, rewire or additional new jack. Costs are per visit, per billed telephone number, per premise. Additional charges for inside wire, jacks, or other materials may apply. Your installer will give you an estimate before beginning the work.

 

Installation Charges

Installation rates will vary with the needs of your service. There are many steps involved in installing your phone service, but not every customer needs each step. The amount of work needed to install phone service for you will depend on the type of facilities and service your want.

 

You may elect to have this charge billed over a 3 month period (some restrictions may apply).