You’ve seen it on the news: People mistakenly calling their free government cell phone an Obama Phone. But is that nickname really appropriate?
While it’s true that the first free government cell phones were distributed in 2008, let’s look back at the history of the Lifeline Assistance program to figure out what it should really be called.
Call it the Bush Phone. The first free cell phone was doled out under President Bush, not President Obama. The Lifeline Assistance program had been in existence for decades, but under President Bush it was expanded to include cell phones.
Call it the Clinton Phone. The Lifeline Assistance program was enhanced by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which was passed by popular bipartisan basis (meaning both Republicans and Democrats voted for it). It was signed into law by President Clinton.
Callit the Reagan Phone. The Lifeline Assistance program was created during the Reagan Administration. President Reagan’s Federal Communications Commission created the original program back in 1984.
Call it the Roosevelt Phone. Congress passed The Telecommunications Act of 1934 when Franklin Roosevelt was President. The act created the FCC and featured a promise “to make available, so far as possible, to all the people of the United States, a rapid, efficient, Nation-wide, and world-wide wire and radio communication service with adequate facilities at reasonable charges.” It also introduced the concept of “universal service”. Today’s Lifeline Assistance program is funded through a Universal Service Fund that evolved from that concept.
Call it the Wilson Phone. When the first telephone companies were founded, the phone service offered by one company in one town may not have worked with the phone service offered by another company in the next town. In 1913 the Woodrow Wilson administration solved the problem by giving AT&T a monopoly over phone service, which set the course for the evolution of the American telephone system.
Want to call it the Obama Phone? Fine. Want to call it the Bush Phone? Dandy. Want to call it the Wilson Phone? OK with us. Fact is one name is just as appropriate as another.
The Lifeline Assistance program lives and grows on its own no matter whom the president may be, no matter which party’s in power in Washington, DC.
If we had our druthers, we’d just call it the Free Government Cell Phone program and leave it at that.
Wilson Phones, anyone?
HowH. says
OBAMA & HIS momma Moo-chelle, always take credit for things that they squeal makes THEM the most beloved by THIER swallowers.
TRUTH is;
O-DRAMA, BARRY always been a liar AND HIS CRIBERALZ WHO love THIS treacherous treasonous SCUMBAG WILL forever cry HIM the greatest at NO “HOPE” , SOCIALISM “CHANGE” & BACKWARDS “FORWARD”
BARRY O-DRAMA IS THE PIED PIPER OF BULLS/÷×! AND MASTER OF SCUM-BAGS
P.S. Rhonda,
Hillary Rodham Clinton THE loser as of Nov 16th, 2016, had fellow criminal BARRY O-DRAMA shut your phone off because he’s the “MASTER MANIPULATOR” under the “patriot act” using government agencies against citizens who do not endorse HIM and HIS fellow “DEEP STATE” criminals…
Ronda says
I have a free Reagan phone and I lost it but found it yesterday. I have been trying for two days now to find our who I have to go through to have it turned back on. It’s ridiculous it’s this hard. All I need to know us who to call so I can have my phone turned back on asap. My name is Ronda Rindlisbacher and my number is 530 410 ****. Is there anyway possible you people can help me. I have called so many numbers and get no where and it’s making me angry. It should not be this hard. It would be great if someone could take the time to help me out and get this phone turned back on. Thanks
Free Government Cell Phones says
Here’s an article about what to do if your phone is lost, stolen or broken. This should give you the info you need:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/faq/i-lost-my-phone-how-do-i-get-a-replacement
Darral says
too bad your all wrong and the phones are paid for through a publicly funded CHAIRITY – meaning NOT TAX dollars
try reading first.
Michael says
Since I never was asked to donate ( theft ) and is taken without being asked and get this…Obama Phone Program Costs Govt. Over $2 Billion | Newsmax.com;
research maybe !!!
Eagle lover says
Half of this country’s population gets their stuff, including phones from the other half thanks to the government forcing us to pay taxes we don’t want to pay.
I. M. Taxpayer says
Considering that Oblame-a has dramatically increased public dependency upon our govt, for the sole purpose of increasing his odds of being reelected by a lazy constituency that does not grasp the concept of LIBERTY, Oblame-a Phone is the most accurate term to describe this ‘freebie’ paid for by hard working and perpetually stiffed taxpayers. NOMOBAMA on NOV 6!!!
W. Young says
How about calling it THE TAXPAYER’S PHONE FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT PAY ANY TAXES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!