2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumThe plan for government cell phones was under the Bush Administration
Why is Obama letting them get away with this in Republican political ads?...this is all I'm hearing from my conservative FB friends. It's important that the truth get out there. Is this a good plan" - yes; is it abused? - yes. But the ads about these phones is "malarky."
"In the 90?s, the federal government set up the Lifeline phone service program via a mandate by the FCC. This program, funded by Universal Service Fund fees on telephone bills, provides qualified consumers with discounted (often free) monthly telephone service. It began as just a landline program and a few years ago made its debut with cell phones. Its been commonly called the Obama phone but thats an urban legend as free cell phones were added under the Bush Administration."
"Thanks to the FCC-mandated, government-sponsored program, called LifeLine Assistance, the financially disadvantaged can receive a free government cell phone and up to 250 free minutes every month."
"In addition to the phone, which comes with voice mail, call waiting and caller ID, you will typically get up to 250 minutes of airtime per month. Its not a lot of airtime, but anyone complaining should remember that service is made available to you for free, and is indirectly paid for by other Americans. In addition, most companies offer the ability to send and receive text messages."
Why - "An employer can more easily reach you with a job offer if you have a free government cell phone.
You can you stay in touch with your doctor and other emergency medical professionals more easily with a free government cell phone. A free government cell phone can help you keep in touch with family and other loved ones."
http://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/
JSK
(1,123 posts)whistler162
(11,155 posts)for stealing the credit from former-President Bush! Sad...;}
eppur_se_muova
(36,262 posts)got all hot under the collar about "free Obama cell phones" recently.
And my family may very well qualify for this service -- it would make the search for a job easier !