Can you help me find the low income cell phone plan?

Life Line and Linkup

Government supplemented cell phones for low income and welfare recipients. Every cell phone bill is taxed to provide this program.

Thank you so much @GloPro

You’re welcome. Let us know how difficult it is to get assistance. I’m curious.

If you go to your local Dept of Social Services, there are representatives outside the offices sometimes, a few days a week. I know at the one I work near we see them outside. People who don’t like it call them “Obama-phones.” If I qualified I’d be right there, getting one myself.

@jca It ticks me off that they call them that. This program began in the 80s. People are such moronic haters.

@GloPro: I’m glad you told me that. Next time I hear someone say that, I’ll point it out that they started in the 1980’s.

1985, according to the link I posted. Who was that… Reagan? That should shut them up.

@GloPro: Excellent info! Thanks.

@GloPro: It says Lifeline has been around since 1985 but the low income phone program started in 2005. Woops!

@jca While Wikipedia is not usually the best resource, this is pretty straightforward and comprehensive. The Universal Service Fund was implemented in 1996. Those taxes were specifically earmarked to provide low income families and individuals with telecommunications services via the Telecommunications Act (1996).

I have studied this program in the past. Obama did not create this program. It was modified during his presidency to close loopholes and attempt to lower fraud and wasteful spending, however. So it hit the news as his creation because of spin politics.

The cell phone program was indeed an Obama welfare creation. The 1996 act was to provide land line phones at a discount.

@MollyMcGuire The Universal Service Fund is to provide low income families with telecommunications services. We have been taxed on that program since 1996. With landline phones becoming obsolete of course the program is being reevaluated and revamped. 40% of homes have no landline at all, and based on usage facts, at least another 10% of homes are not using the landline they have as a package promotion with cable/Internet. The majority of homes therefore do not have or use landlines. To stay in an archaic version of the Lifeline and Linkup programs would be an inefficient waste of earmarked resources. Of course it has developed with the times. That doesn’t mean Obama created the program. To say so or believe so is simply following propaganda.
The FCC revamped the program. That is not the same as Obama gave the poor all cell phones.

@GloPro Apparently the propaganda is working.

The conservative messiah, Reagan, did a lot of things that would have conservatives frothing at the mouth today.

@Darth_Algar There was a time when Republicans were pushing for things like Social Security, and better care for our veterans. Hell, Romneycare was a great idea until Democrats started pushing to make it nationwide. However, I suspect that their actual platform is to oppose Democrats on anything, even if it means doing a 180.

[mod says] This question has been relocated to Social with the OP’s permission.