Safe Connections Act (SCA) is a federal law that supports survivors of domestic violence and other qualifying acts. It allows Survivors to request the separation of phone lines from shared mobile service accounts where the abuser also uses a line on the account. The SCA allows for quick separation of the survivor’s mobile line(s), or the abuser’s line, from the shared account without the advance knowledge of the abuser.

Under the SCA, the survivor is someone over 18 years old who has been the victim of a covered action by an abuser. An abuser is a person who committed, or allegedly committed, a covered action against a survivor. Someone is also a survivor if the abuser has committed or allegedly committed the action against a person in the survivor’s care. Covered actions include domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, sexual assault, human trafficking and sex trafficking, and similar actions.

To qualify, the survivor and the abuser each must use a line on a shared mobile account. The account can be either Prepaid or Postpaid. The survivor needs appropriate documentation to support the request. You can apply online, by calling GCI at 800-800-4800, or by visiting a retail location.

The documentation needs to show that the abuser has committed or allegedly committed a covered action against the survivor, or someone in the survivor’s care. The documentation can be submitted in any electronic format such as a .pdf, .jpg, .gif, etc. The documentation needs to be one of the following:

• A signed affidavit from:
  • A licensed medical or mental healthcare provider
  • A military medical or mental healthcare provider
  • A licensed Social Worker
  • A Victim Services Provider, Civilian, Military or Tribal
  • An employee of the Court
• A copy of a police report or statements provided by:
  • Civilian, Military or Tribal police
  • A Judge or Magistrate
• Documentation or Official Records which document the covered act such as:
  • Charging documents
  • Protective or Restraining Orders (Civilian, Tribal, or Military)

If documentation provided doesn’t fit into any of these categories, it may delay approval or result in a denial. If no documentation is provided, that will result in an automatic denial, and a new application will be required.

Yes, there are some specific scenarios where GCI is unable to separate lines:

• Government, Education, Healthcare, and GCI employee accounts - Custom customer accounts (e.g., GH&E and GCI employee accounts) don’t qualify for line separation under SCA.
• In some scenarios, GCI can only separate the survivor’s line(s), and cannot separate the abuser’s line.
• Accounts that include more than just mobile services – The SCA only applies to mobile services. On GCI+ accounts where the survivor is NOT the primary account owner, the survivor can only separate their mobile line (and those of their dependents, if applicable) to a new account.

The Survivor may use the LSR acceptance notification to support their eligibility for a new category of Lifeline support under the Safe Connections Act. This is called “emergency communications support.” Qualification for Lifeline still requires the survivor to apply through the National Verifier website to obtain an Application ID, and financial hardship qualifications apply. Lifeline emergency communications support under SCA will last for six months. At the end of the six-month period, it will be up to the survivor to extend their Lifeline eligibility through regular process channels.

We can use a temporary address for mobile services, similar to Lifeline.

GCI has a variety of low-cost devices available to purchase. If the customer has an alternative, compatible device from another carrier or one purchased from a third-party retailer, they are welcome to activate that as well.

Separation of multiple lines is possible when the survivor attests that the other individuals with lines to be separated are in the care of the survivor. Individuals in the care of the survivor mean:

• Individuals who are part of the same household;
• Minor children, even if they live at a different address from the survivor;
• Those under the survivor’s care under a court order or power of attorney;
• Someone over the age of 18 who is financially or physically dependent on the survivor.

Yes, line separation is not limited to voice services.

If you are applying for line separation under the SCA, and are not the primary account holder, the line separation is limited to only mobile service accounts. All other GCI services are subject to the same procedures as any other account, including the required account credentials and credit checks.

Survivors can still separate their line(s) regardless of credit rating. Under the Safe Connections Act, the Survivor will not be held to the same account and credit qualifications, such as a deposit or poor credit rating, as they would for a non-SCA account.

Yes. To port your number out, please submit an SCA line separation request to GCI for the line(s) you want to port out. Using the SCA line separation request to separate the lines will prevent notifications to the abuser. Once the line(s) are separated, contact the other carrier to port out your number. Please note that if GCI simply receives a Port Out Request from another carrier outside of the SCA line separation process, normal notifications will be sent to the account holder.

Yes, GCI welcomes new customers. We recommend submitting an SCA line separation request with your current carrier first to allow the line to be separated without notification to the abuser. Then, please complete GCI’s online SCA application and indicate that you are porting in from another carrier. GCI will do their best to accommodate your request, however you should let your current provider know of your intention to port out under the SCA so that notifications to the abuser can be reduced.

Under the SCA, Survivors can choose any plan, prepaid or postpaid. You’ll be asked to indicate which plan you want when you apply. Please review the mobile plans available prior to starting your application.

Yes, under the SCA, survivors can choose any plan, prepaid or postpaid. You’ll be asked to indicate which plan you want during the follow up call after submitting your online application. Please review the mobile plans available prior to starting your application.

Review the information provided on this page. Gather your documentation and decide which plan best suits your needs. Then, submit your separation request online, call GCI at 800-800-4800, or visit a retail location.

If you plan on switching to a Lifeline account, you’ll first be placed on our least expensive postpaid plan. It is the responsibility of the survivor to complete the Lifeline application and contact GCI once the separation is complete, to provide the Application ID provided by the National Verifier application process. To learn more about Lifeline or this process, call us at 800-800-4800.

If your application is approved, line separation will be completed no later than the end of two business days. For example: if a survivor submits an SCA application Friday evening at 9:30 pm, the timer will start Monday morning and, upon approval, will be completed before close of business on Tuesday.

Yes, they will be notified immediately after the line separation is completed, which will occur within two business days of the line separation application if approved. During the application review and separation process, GCI will not notify the abuser of the pending actions being taken on the account or for their line. Only upon completion of the separation will GCI notify the abuser of what has taken place on their account or for their line. In cases where the account owner is a third party (not the abuser or the survivor), they too will receive a notification after the separation is complete. The survivor or their designated representative will receive a notification that their line separation has been approved, indicating that the abuser or account owner will also be notified.

**Please note: this will occur quickly after the survivor is notified and may be the same day the line separation request is submitted. Prepare for the abuser or account owner to be notified of the changes to their account as early as the same day the line separation request is submitted.**

GCI treats line separation requests and information as confidential. GCI will securely dispose of all information submitted with line separation requests as required under the SCA rules.

There is no fee for line separation. Under the SCA rules, carriers are not allowed to charge fees or impose penalties for line separation requests.

Please note: if the survivor doesn’t have an existing device due to damage or loss, it is their responsibility to find or purchase a compatible device to use for their line.

Yes, the survivor can keep their current telephone number, or receive a new one if they need it, at no extra charge.

You may experience a brief interruption in service. After separating your line(s), you will need to power your device off, wait 10 seconds, then power it back on.

If your answer cannot be found in our FAQs, please contact GCI’s Customer Service team at 800-800-4800 and ask to be transferred to a Safe Connections Act specialist.

To ensure a current contact can no longer make changes to your account after being removed or after you move to a new account, we suggest updating your security settings:

1. Update your CPNI PIN: Change your Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI) PIN to ensure your account remains secure and that only you can access your account details.
2. Change your passwords: Update all your account passwords, including your online account login and any other services linked to your account. This prevents the removed contact from accessing your account.
3. Update security questions: Review and change your security questions and answers. This adds an extra layer of protection and ensures that only you can verify your identity when making changes to your account.

It is possible that the abuser or others can still see your location due to device-specific settings, or account settings not controlled by GCI. Location sharing on Apple and Android devices is handled through those devices and is outside of GCI control. Here are steps to manage those settings on Apple and Android phones:

For iPhones:

1. Turn Off Location Sharing in Settings:
   1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
   2. Scroll down and tap Privacy & Security.
   3. Tap Location Services.
   4. You can either toggle Location Services off completely (this will disable all location services) or manage individual app permissions by scrolling down and selecting specific apps to turn off their location access.
2. Stop Sharing Your Location with Specific Contacts:
   1. Open the Find My app.
   2. Tap on the People tab at the bottom.
   3. Select the person you want to stop sharing your location with.
   4. Tap Stop Sharing My Location.
3. Disable Location Sharing in Messages:
   1. Open the Messages app.
   2. Open the conversation with the person you want to stop sharing your location with.
   3. Tap on the person's name at the top of the screen.
   4. Tap Stop Sharing My Location.

For Android Devices:

1. Turn Off Location Sharing in Settings:
   1. Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
   2. Tap Location.
   3. Toggle the Location switch off to disable all location services. Alternatively, you can tap App permissions to manage location access for individual apps.
2. Stop Sharing Your Location with Specific Contacts in Google Maps:
   1. Open the Google Maps app.
   2. Tap on your profile picture or initial in the top right corner.
   3. Tap Location sharing.
   4. You will see a list of people you are sharing your location with. Tap on the person's name.
   5. Tap Stop to stop sharing your location with that person.
3. Disable Location Sharing in Messages:
   1. Open the Messages app.
   2. Open the conversation with the person you want to stop sharing your location with.
   3. Tap the More options icon (three vertical dots) in the top right corner.
   4. Tap Location sharing or Stop sharing.