Local exchange companies must waive deposits on local exchange service for eligible subscribers and provide a fifty percent discount on the company's customary charge for commencing telecommunications service for eligible subscribers. The commission or other appropriate agency must make timely application for any available federal funds. The remaining portion of the connection fee to be paid by the subscriber must be expressly payable by installment fees spread over a period of months. A subscriber may, however, choose to pay the connection fee in a lump sum. Costs associated with the waiver and discount must be accounted for separately and recovered from the telephone assistance appropriation.