When it comes to Lifeline, the program that offers free phone service to low-income families, there are many things that you should know.
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Texas Lifeline Offers Free Talk, Text, And Data To Low-Income Families.
Lifeline is a government assistance program that offers free talk, text, and data to low-income families. You must enroll with a qualifying service provider to take advantage of this program. You will need to wait 90 days for the service to kick in. After you sign up, you will need to contact your service provider to de-enroll if you change providers. The best way to find out if you qualify for the program is to visit the Universal Service Administrative Company website. This organization has a website that outlines the ins and outs of the low-income program, including a comprehensive list of participating providers. They also have a helpful FAQ section. You may also check out the sites like Assistwireless.com for more information. One of the most notable aspects of the program is that it is a bundled voice and broadband service. In addition to spiffing up your home phone, you can also sign up for high-speed internet courtesy of a subsidy from the Federal Communications Commission. Another notable tidbit is the Affordable Connectivity Program’s one-time $100 tablet incentive. To be eligible, you must first complete an application process. These services come with a monthly fee of $30 or less. However, you can also opt for a no-contract plan with unlimited talk and text for a flat monthly fee.
FCC’s Decision To Rescind The Lifeline Program
The Federal Communications Commission’s decision to rescind Lifeline phone service could leave 7 million low-income households without service. The program is a federal subsidy that covers the cost of landline and wireless phone service for people with low incomes. Applicants must have a gain of 35 percent or less above the federal poverty line. In addition to providing subsidies for cellular and landline services, the program provides free access to text messages and mobile data. The Universal Service Fund funds it. Telecommunications carriers and resellers recoup funds by charging a fee tacked onto the customers’ monthly phone bills. Several larger providers profit from leasing their networks and infrastructure to resellers. They can offer customers wireless coverage at a lower cost by reselling wireless services. Lifeline was introduced in 1985. Today, it serves more than 10 million Americans. A major goal of the program is to ensure that all Americans have access to a basic landline phone service. The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), a division of the FCC, oversees the Lifeline program. Among other things, the company oversees discounts for libraries, schools, and healthcare facilities. Other petitions are filed by Airvoice and PlatinumTel, seeking designation as limited ETCs. Also, Consumer Cellular has filed a petition to waive the facilities-based ETC requirement. Earlier this month, the Wireline Competition Bureau issued updated minimum service standards for Lifeline-supported service. This includes a pause on the Lifeline minimum service standard for mobile broadband data capacity.
Missteps In The National Verification System For Lifeline
The Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) recently announced the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier (NLEV) launch in six states. This is a significant development for low-income families as it will allow them to verify their Lifeline eligibility using a simple automated phone call. Since the introduction of the NLEV, several issues have been addressed by the WCB. It has issued guidance on the 2013 Lifeline recertification process. In addition, it has issued guidance on the roll-up of Lifeline reverification requirements. One of the first issues addressed by the WCB was a petition from Virgin Mobile to designate a Universal Telecommunications Company (ETC) to provide Lifeline support. Virgin Mobile requested ETC designation for support in North Carolina, Virginia, and New York. WCB conditionally approved all of these requests except for one. A few of the forbearance requests were for a temporary waiver for implementing federal streamlined eligibility programs. WCB also issued a Notice of Data for the Lifeline program. The Notice provides a breakdown of the data submitted to the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC).
Inadequacies so great that even those who are eligible often turn it down
It’s a shame that Lifeline, the $2.4 billion digital safety net, is unreliable. Although the program is lauded by government officials, telecom giants and the like, only a small fraction of its subscribers use the subsidized service. The federal government has not exactly made life easy for its most vulnerable citizens. For starters, there is no central clearinghouse that enables consumers to navigate their way through the bureaucracy. For example, if you are in the market for a cell phone and you’re on a budget, you’re out of luck. If you are fortunate enough to qualify for Lifeline, you are stuck with subpar service. That’s not to mention the ins and outs of the program. To top things off, the program is plagued by duplicative competitors and inefficient customer service. Fortunately, the government has a plan for the future and is making the program more accountable and customer friendly.