The ECON II program offers discounted local Verizon telephone service to qualified DC residents age 64 years and under for $3.00 a month. ECON II customers will be provided with unlimited calling in the Washington metropolitan area. Seniors age 65 and older will receive a monthly discounted rate of $1.00 with unlimited calling in the Washington metropolitan area. With the ECON II program, Verizon offers a free blocking option for long distance calls. If a customer chooses this blocking option voluntarily, no security deposit will be required.

ECON II re-certification was introduced for the first time in October 2004. This new development has resulted in procedural changes concerning the collection and the distribution of funds for the administration of ECON II. The National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) is now the administrator of the Universal Service Fund (USF). It oversees the collection of funds from all licensed telecommunication carriers in the District and distributes these funds to respective programs, one of which is the distribution of funds to the District Department of the Environment for the re-certification of Economy II. In addition, DCEO now reports to NECA monthly, the names and telephone numbers of all new Economy II customers who qualify under the federal income guidelines. Customers must recertify each year.