Dialing for Obama

Remember the picture of Michelle Obama serving up food to the “chronically hungry” at Miriam’s Kitchen? One homeless man waiting to be served snapped a picture of a smiling Michelle with his cellular telephone. That was the sign of things to come back on March 6th. It’s end of October 2009 and scores of welfare recipients now have their very own “Obama phone”.

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The Obama phone is provided by SafeLink Wireless which explains how to qualify for “Lifeline Service” online. “In general you may qualify if... You already participate in other state or federal assistance program such as Federal Public Housing Assistance, Food Stamps and Medicaid. “Your total household income is at or below 135% of the poverty guidelines by your State and/or the Federal Government. “No one in your household currently receives Lifeline Service through another phone carrier. “You have a valid United States Postal Address. In order for us to ship your free phone you must live at a residence that can receive mail from the US Post Office. Sorry, but P.O. boxes cannot be accepted. “In addition to meeting the guidelines above you will also be required to provide proof of your your participation in an assistance program, or proof of your income level.” According to its home page, “Safelink Wireless is a government supported program that provides a free cell phone and airtime each month for income-eligible customers. With Obama phone owners as the latest wave of election pawns, little wonder why the Dems don’t seem too concerned about mid-term elections. Safelink Wireless would like CFP readers to be aware of the following: SafeLink Wireless and the Lifeline Program Fact Sheet SafeLink Wireless was created by TracFone Wireless, Inc. when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently approved the company to offer Lifeline - a public assistance program that ensures telephone service is available and affordable for low-income subscribers.   The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created the Lifeline program in 1984 and enhanced the program under Telecommunications Act of 1996. Lifeline support reduces eligible consumers' monthly charges for basic telephone service. Traditionally, the Lifeline program was only available as a discount on a consumer’s landline telephone bill. SafeLink Wireless applies the Universal Service Fund subsidy to an allotment of free airtime minutes and TracFone provides the wireless handset at the company’s expense. Instead of receiving a subsidized monthly telephone bill for Lifeline service, SafeLink converts the total amount of discounted service (approximately $13.50 of discounted telephone service in most states) into minutes (68 airtime minutes) each month for one year with unlimited access to 911 emergency services. The cell phone offers in-demand features: voicemail, text, three-way calling, call waiting, and caller ID. The Low Income Program of the Universal Service Fund, which is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), is designed to ensure that quality telecommunications services are available to low-income customers at just, reasonable, and affordable rates. The Low Income Program includes three components Lifeline, Link Up, and Toll Limitation Service (TLS). Lifeline, Link Up, and Toll Limitation Service (TLS) help keep Americans connected by providing discounts that make basic, local telephone service more affordable for more than 7 million Americans. Approximately 1,700 telephone companies are eligible to provide these discounts. As of October 2009, SafeLink is available in nineteen states - Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin - and the District of Columbia. Eligibility guidelines vary by state but in general individuals qualify if they participate in a public assistance program such as Food Stamps, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), National Free School Lunch, Federal Housing/Section 8 Assistance, or if they do not receive any of these public assistance programs, they may also qualify based on total household gross monthly income. Consumers apply for Lifeline, Link Up, and TLS support through their local telephone company or a designated agency. Consumers may apply to the SafeLink Program directly from SafeLink Wireless. Customers can learn more or apply by calling 1-800-SAFELINK or visiting SafeLink.com

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