One Lifeline Assistance expert says this the biggest news to hit the Lifeline Assistance business since Safelink handed out the first free government cell phone back in Tennessee way back in 2008.
Free government cell phone customers will get far more minutes. But what’s even more important, for the first time they’ll also be able to get Lifeline Broadband — blazing fast internet.
(NOTE: We summarize all those new cell phone and broadband rules below, but for even more info on the new Lifeline Broadband, visit our other website: CheapInternet.com)
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Thomas Wheeler just issued a collection of exciting new regulations that will require Lifeline Assistance companies to deliver more minutes and fast new Lifeline Broadband service. You could read all the details in excruciating bureaucratese, but FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net has prepared this easy-to-understand summary for you:
Here’s what it all means for free government cell phone customers:
All Lifeline Assistance cell phone customers will receive more minutes per month. A lot more.
All service providers will be required to provide a minimum of 500 minutes per month by December 1, 2016. And that’s just the beginning because the minimum minutes per month will jump to 1,000 minutes per month by the end of 2018.
This is incredibly good news if you’re currently stuck in one of those horrible Lifeline plans that restricts you to 68, 125, or 250 minutes per month. Those plans will disappear by the end of this year and you’ll be automatically upgraded to a plan that offers at least 500 minutes per month.
Unfortunately, we expect that many smaller, less profitable, less efficient Lifeline service providers will be unable to provide this higher level of service and will also disappear. That means the business will consolidate in the hands of the larger, more efficient service providers.
Texting will not necessarily increase, because-in what we believe to be a major oversight—Lifeline regulations do not cover texting. Each free government cell phone provider may choose the number of texts it wishes to provide.
Here’s what it means for Lifeline Broadband customers:
After a long, long wait Lifeline Broadband is just around the corner. Chairman Wheeler’s fact sheet says the new regulations “Unlock Lifeline broadband services by providing streamlined, nationwide entry for a new category of providers called Lifeline Broadband Providers.”
Our contact at the USAC tells us, “A Lifeline Broadband Provider is an entity that offers Broadband service only. These could be companies that currently do not offer Lifeline service because they do not offer voice or new companies that decide to offer broadband. The amount of support will not change, so the phone company will have to apply $9.25 to the Lifeline supported services they offer. The phone company will need to decide if the $9.25 is enough to offer services without charge or if they will need to charge a small fee to cover these services.”
In other words, just as companies offering free government cell phones sprung into existence to service the new Lifeline Assistance program back in 2008, we expect similar companies to begin specializing in the new Lifeline Broadband program. We would not be surprised if some of them are able to figure out how to offer high-speed broadband service free to consumers. Others will surely figure out how to offer the same service for next to nothing. And like most of the major cell phone companies (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, etc.), some companies will only pay lip service to Lifeline Broadband by discounting their regular prices by $9.25 per month — not enough to make their Internet plans available for struggling Americans.
Bottom line: Low-income Americans are going to have more high-speed Internet choices than they’ve ever had before.
The Lifeline Broadband business will begin to look a lot more like the free government cell phone business
We asked our USAC contact this question: How will a customer know which internet providers are approved to offer the subsidy, and which of their plans are approved?
“A Lifeline subscriber will know which company is providing Broadband service via the company’s website,” she responded, “as well as, USAC’s companies in my state map.
Faster internet. Much faster.
Many of our readers complain that affordable Internet offers so little monthly data usage that the service is virtually worthless. Most free government cell phone companies don’t offer any data plans and those that do are woefully inadequate.
So we probed our USAC source with this question — The FCC memo says it will be “phasing in” a 500 MB per month of 3G data usage minimum standard (increasing to 2 GB per month by the end of 2018). When will that phase in begin?
The answer? “That phase-in will begin on December 1 of this year.” That’s right, all free government cell phone companies will be required to offer you data plans with at least 500 MB by the end of this year.
In case you’re wondering, this might be a good time to explain what 3G is. The “G” stands for generation and 3G, therefore, the third generation of mobile communications technology (analog cellular was the first generation, digital PCS the second) of mobile communications. What is.com explains 3G like this: “3G promises increased bandwidth, up to 384 Kbps when a device is stationary or moving at pedestrian speed, 128 Kbps in a car, and 2 Mbps in fixed applications.”
In other words, it’s great news for you.
Making it faster and simpler to qualify
In an effort to stem fraud, waste and abuse, the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) was created. When applicants sign up for a Lifeline Assistance free government cell phone account, their names are checked against the database to make sure they do not already have an account. We wondered if the system would be changed to accommodate this expansion of the Lifeline program.
“The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) already performs this function for all Lifeline subscribers,” our source said. “However (it) does not include subscribers who reside in opt-out states (CA, OR, TX, & VT). If a carrier tries to enroll a subscriber that already has a Lifeline benefit, the database will inform the carrier of this.”
What’s an opt-out state? Simple. The four states listed — California, Oregon, Texas, and Vermont — decided to create their own statewide databases. So when residents of those states apply for Lifeline accounts, their names will be checked against names on their states’ unique databases instead of being checked against the national database.
(Anyone familiar with California knows there’s nothing the state’s politicians love more than creating complex new bureaucracies unnecessarily.)
How long does a check take?
If you’ve ever applied for a government program, you’re probably worried that the expanded Lifeline program will require a complex application process followed by a long wait for approval?
We’re happy to report that the answer is no.
As our source said, “The current check provides a response in real-time. Once the carrier inputs information into NLAD, they will receive an error message if the subscriber is already enrolled.”
In other words, you can get approved instantaneously.
More good news: Phones and Internet for residents of shelters and group homes
The NLAD database check has clearly eliminated lots of fraud and abuse. But until now it has also made it almost impossible to help those who need it most — those in group homes, halfway houses, homeless shelters, and even some apartment buildings.
Our source delivered more good news:
“This issue had been addressed with the creation of the Independent Economic Household worksheet. For those who live in homes that have multiple Lifeline benefits, they can enroll by completing a household worksheet provided by their carrier.”
Summing it all up
This is the development you (and millions of other low-income Americans) have been waiting for.
The free government cell phone program will be expanded to include Internet. More people will qualify. And it’s going to be easier to apply for and receive the benefits of the program.
Some people might complain that the speeds aren’t fast enough or that the data limits are too restrictive or that it took too long to get here, but we feel like Christmas came early this year.
Thank you, FCC. Thanks a lot.
LScott says
I’M WITH ACCESSWRELESS AND THE ONLY INCREASED MY MINUTES FROM 250 PER MONTH TO 350 PER MONTH, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 500 MINUTES??
Free Government Cell Phones says
We’re in the middle of trying to make sense of all the new plans ourselves, LScott. There seems to be lots of confusion and misinformation even on the Lifeline free government cell phone company sites.
LScott says
Hi, I am with Accesswireless in Chicago, Il. and they only increased my mintues to 350 per month, I thought it was suppose to increased to 500 min. ????
Free Government Cell Phones says
Good question, LScott. We noticed the same thing just last night as we were just sorting through all the new offers from all the Lifeline companies. We’re only in day two of this new program and we do not have the answer yet. But we’ll reach out to our contact as the USAC and work on getting an answer come Monday morning.
Steve says
Greetings FGCP,
Since the above article mentions the Lifeline Broadband, and I did ask this similar question on your sister site Cheap Internet in an like article there – which hasn’t received a response yet, I’d like to mention it here as well…
PCs for People working with eligible SNAP’s and low-income Americans (other entitlements agencies as will), offers the means to get online by Sprint’s Mobile Internet (without the need to have children in school lunch programs), and with Lifelines adoption of Broadband into the Lifeline program would this be an area for you to address as well.
Reaching out to PCs for People and gotten their views and comments, if they are thinking of heading into the Lifeline Broadband realm. Obtaining a Lifeline Broadband Provider (LBP) Designation? Service providers that will provide only Lifeline-supported broadband service, and not Lifeline-supported voice service, are called Lifeline Broadband Providers (LBPs).
LBPs are a type of ETC and must seek their designation through the FCC. LBPs may be designated across multiple states through a single application process.
With PCs for People supposedly being as an eligible ETC participant, then people who benefit from the Lifeline program could apply those discounted benefits to the PCs for People Internet service and possibly bypassing the up front costs ($120.00) of the yearly saving pricing and enroll that way in to their Internet service, and the only expense to them would be for the Hotspot device needed.
This would have a better monthly allotment of Data being offered to them and in a Mobile Internet if their address would change.
I could see this benefiting those Lifeline users wanting only broadband by Lifeline in which PCs for People could have guaranteed government money, as long as they are eligible by the means designated by FCC and us users by the Lifeline programs requirements to have only one Lifelines benefit applied how ever we choose to use it and being eligible as the Lifeline program requires.
What do you think – is it worth your time to check this avenue out for us? Maybe spur your sister site into some actions over there? I’m sure many, very many of your readers would be interested and knowing of all options afforded to them by Lifeline and covering it here or there…
Thank you in advance for your thoughts and comments,
Steve
Free Government Cell Phones says
So far everyone is being very tight lipped about what will happen with Lifeline Broadband, Steve. Frankly, we’re surprised no one is yet touting the broader program.
Steve says
Free Government Cell Phones
See below for my comment to your comment to-
Eric says October 21, 2016 at 2:30 pm
I really think some reader here will help you by volunteering in researching and offer additional means for you.
Yours is to only tap in to this community and ask us.
Thanks, Steve
Eric says
I read your article here and your article on which free government cell phone companies offer smartphones. Do you also know what phone service companies are used for each Lifeline company? I signed up recently for Qlink. When I got the phone, I was disappointed that got zero bars showing for the reception signal. Most times I would get a message saying the signal is too weak when I would try to make a phone call from it. A few times it went through but either it would disconnect partway through the call or I could not understand what was being spoken for some of the call. It would cut out part of what they were saying.
I called Qlink and they said they used Sprint and according to their information I was in an area that I could receive service. I explained to them what problems I had, and they said there wasn’t anything more they could do. Before I try to sign up for a different provider, do you have information on what phone companies are used for each Lifeline company? I have used Tracfones before, and smartphone tracfones use Verizon, and their service works very well where I live. I also have used non-smartphones from Tracfone, and they use a different provider than Verizon for nonsmart phones, and that company’s reception in my area can be poor like Qlink’s Sprint’s is for my area. I live in a fairly populated suburb 30 minutes outside of Philadelphia, PA. Do you happen to have any info on what companies use Verizon in the Lifeline program and in general what phone companies are used for each Lifeline company? We can see what each company has for minutes each month on their websites, but the particular phone company they are using, whether its Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, ect, aren’t shown, and would be a big help for some people in some cases. Thank you.
Free Government Cell Phones says
We’ve never done an article on that subject, Eric, but you’ve inspired us and we’ll start working on putting one together. In the meantime, you can contact each of the free government cell phone companies in your state to find out which networks they use. You may even be able to find that information on each company’s website. Good luck.
If you find the company you need, here’s an article that tells you how to switch service providers. It’s really a pretty simple process:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/how-to-i-switch-lifeline-phone-companies
Steve says
Yes something like this – as you suggest, is long overdue.
I only to hope it will be on a one page article with a graft or using columns for an easy comparison method of each provider, and not added to each providers information page – still maybe both options but, an easy to use central fact sheet article would be supreme…
Calling out such things such as-
Noting if their service is GSM or CDMA, for easy BYOP.
(Sprint, Verizon and U.S. Cellular use CDMA)
(AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM)
These are the big 5 where all national wireless network signals come from, no matter where down the line you eventually get your service from, it will come through one of these major cell network towers. Whose service of the big/top 4 service carriers they contracted with – to know where its coming to you from, as some neighborhoods have dead spots or in an edge of coverage from certain carriers. (See Note*** below)
Noting of their Parent Company (founder) which is behind this Lifeline – service provider company.
BBB, TOS, and other mediums can be helpful to locate this info.
Safelink = Tracfone
Access Wireless = ?
Life Wireless = Telrite Corporation
Budget Mobile = ?
etc…
If they offer Brick and Motor stores and in which states, or
are they only of an online offering.
FGCP – you have limited resources and personnel maybe for the most part, but you do have active readers here and that of our email address, so why not contact us, in giving us assignments (if we’re will) to help you in finding out information’s you would need for an article(s). Giving you “links” where that information is found and helping you out in this way and a growing of facts related.
Somewhat like neighborhood watch-groups for the Lifeline program. Many as I would be willing to and have the time to offer and volunteer for your research.
Note ***-
Wireless Frequencies and Bands
AT&T
850-(5), 1900-(2) MHz – 2G/3G/4G (GPRS/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+)
700-(12,17), 1900-(2), 1700/2100-(4) MHz – 4G (LTE)
T-Mobile
700-(12) MHz – bought in January 2014 from Verizon, to be used for 4G LTE
1900-(2) MHz – 2G/3G (GPRS/EDGE, HSPA+ PCS)
1700/2100-(4) MHz – 3G/4G (HSPA/HSPA+/LTE)
Sprint
800-(26) , 1900-(26) MHz – 2G/3G/4G (PCS/EVDO/LTE)
2500-(41) MHz – 4G (phased out WiMAX, moving to LTE)
US Cellular
700-(12), 850-(5), MHz, 1900-(2) MHz – 3G (PCS/EVDO)
Verizon
700-(13), 1900-(2) MHz – 3G (EVDO)
1700/2100-(4) MHz – 4G (LTE) – currently building out coverage
(#)as in(1) = Bands in the above – other numbers to = Frequencies
(SOME OF THIS ^ABOVE^ MAYBE DATED INFO.)
Thanks,
Steve
Free Government Cell Phones says
Thanks, Steve. Funny thing is that we’ve been discussing exactly what you sugggested — asking our readers if they’d like to pitch in and help once in a while. Don’t be surprised if you hear from us.
Steve says
Cool – Really Cool
Something also as a National Watchdog group composed by city and state of your community here. Then originated, founded, by you could lead to a very helpful platform for all interested in Lifeline, “hints to FCC and USCA”. for a useful resource…
Free Government Cell Phones says
We’re stretched to the limits of our manpower as it is, Steve.
Jonas a young jr says
Call me at 419-650-****. i got sick and someone took it. When i call the phone they hag up on me. my name is jonas young (PERSONAL DATA DELATED BY COMMENT MODERATOR). i need that turned off and a new one sent for my doctors to get a hold of me. i really need it. im calling the cops tomorrow. let me know i really need it. i just been cut open so they can do my insides. call me at that 419-650-**** thank you. i got to give this phone back. i need your help. thank you
Free Government Cell Phones says
First things first, Jonas. Never leave that kind of personal information online where dishonest people can get their hands on it. We took the liberty of deleting all your data to protect you from potential identity fraud.
Second, we cannot solve your problem. You need to contact your service provider’s customer service team by phone or online. Good luck.
Anonymous Woman in Wa State says
I need some help. I am 55 yrs old and I am on welfare, food stamps, section 8, medicaid ,energy assistance etc and I am unemployed. I am being ripped off by comcast. They are charging me 97.00 a month for basic tv and basic internet with no extras and I simply cant afford it. My service gets shut off every other month because I have a hard time trying to find work to pay the bill. I have tried talking to them repeatedly trying to get them to lower my bill but they refuse to budge. I have seen online where they offer other customers 29.99 a month and they refuse to lower my rate. I have been a customer of theirs for almost 12 years and they refuse to let me on their low income program because I am a current customer and that is a load of bs. I am even on public housing and they still wont let me on it. Comcast does not give a s— about anyone, its all about them and greed. I have to have internet access to look for side work just to pay their ridiculously high bill every month and every time i am late (thru no fault of my own , i cant hardly find any work!) they turn down the speed of my internet so far I cant even get online). And then they expect me to pay them when I cant even get online to get any work. I tried complaining to the FCC, the attorney general in my state, a local senator and even the local tv station and no one give s a s—- at all. Its a pretty bad world when no one gives a shit anymore and if I cant find work to pay my utllities then i will get my net shut off, my electric shut off and then i will be evicted because section 8 will kick me off the program if they find out any of my utilities got shut off. And then I will be out on the street. Guess no one gives a shit about older people anymore. I might as well go back to selling my ass again huh?
Centurylink just screwed me over too, worse and then disconnected me and they are still sending me monthly bills for service I dont even have. Both of these companies need to be shut down for Consumer Fraud. Centurylink lied to me and told me they were only going to charge me 35.00 a month for basic phone service and when i go the bill it ended up being 97.00 a month too. GD BS.
Anonymous Woman in Wa State says
I am being charged 20.00 a month for tv and 72.00 a month for BASIC internet with no extras plus tax. That is INSANE!!!. I am 55 yrs old!!
Free Government Cell Phones says
We can direct you over to our other website, CheapInternet.com, to find out all about low-income Internet plans. There are a number of them and we hope you find one that helps you out:
http://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
Unfortunately, we do not know of any affordable TV/Internet bundles. But it’s possible to get lots of TV on the Internet these days, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed for you.
GERARD F. GAUDIN says
I have just spent many interesting and enlightening months trying to change Carriers of my Free Government Phone. I had Assurance Wireless as my phone carrier for many years. I was buying Broadband Access from Cox Communications during the same time period.
Cox solicited my phone account and assured me that it would be fully covered under the Lifeline Program. It turned into a lengthy battle involving 2 formal FCC complaints. They finally gave me the benefits under a one year program with complete understanding that I would switch carriers if they did not honor the agreement beyond that year.
As the year neared end, and my re-certification for Lifeline came due. Cox tampered with the USAC re-cert database; and blocked my access for an entire month. That required me to utilize USPS snail mail for re-certification prior to the deadline. Then they purposely delayed their notification of extension of Lifeline benefits until the expiration of the existing one year program.
Upon my attempt to change back to Assurance Wireless, Cox interfered with the USAC and NLAD databases which prevented my Carrier Transfer for approximately six months. All this time Cox was collecting USAC funds; and at the same time Cramming my Broadband bills with non-descriptive fees and charges.
I contacted All Agencies: i.e: FCC;USAC;Assurance Wireless;Cox Communications; La. Public Service Commission; Federal Congressmen; Sprint; etc.; and finally my Carrier was switched . During this entire process I timely paid an ever Increasing Broadband bill; as the Services deteriorated and became slower.
Eventually, Cox instated Service Interrupts which at times lasted for days and ultimately Weeks. Every interrupt would require an hour or more to resolve (supposedly completely); then it would repeat with more abusive Cox personnel to deal with.
The latest discourse had Cox lying that my service had not been interrupted; although they slammed the phone down when I explained the huge Cox Splash Screen appearing on my monitor stating that: “Your Service Has Been Interrupted!”
My service has presently been restored; but the Cable speed is down to an equivalency of a 1200 baud dial up modem.
My purpose in this statement is to present the pitfalls and shortcomings of having to deal with ISP’s and Phone Carriers that seem to have no checks or balances; and definitely no remorse or ethics!!!
Free Government Cell Phones says
Wow. What a terrible series of events. Had you asked us first, we would have told you that Cox does not participate in the free government cell phone program. If we were you we’d switch service providers again. After what you’ve been through, the thought of switching service providers again probably makes you break out in a cold sweat. But it really should have been much simpler than what you endured. Here’s an article that tells you how to switch the right way:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/faq/how-do-i-switch-lifeline-providers
And here’s where you can find a complete list of Lifeline Assistance free government cell phone providers in your state:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states
Archie Waltz says
thank you
Ima says
Why won’t they give the person’s Lifeline payment to the person’s current wireless or broadband company? The special new “:Lifeline Broadband companies will probably devise plans with such puny speeds and restricted usage that it will render any Lifeline internet programs not worth what you are saving–just like the cellphone plans. Look at US Cellular. I left a plan identical to the one they offer that you advised against in your article, and I was paying $45–and went with Boost prepaid–UNLIMITED everything for $35. Why would anyone pay MORE so that they could be in a Lifeline cell plan??
With custom companies and plans, companies will offer cheap, meager service for an inflated price so they can pocket the difference. Years ago I was getting about $6 from Lifeline, when AT&T raised my bill $20!
Thanks for your site and information.
Gerard Picard says
I live in Ca. I’m low income and disabled.
I enjoy my phone and carrier plan but it’s costly.
Does Ca. have a discounted alotment towards our monthly bill as other states offer…..and if not why not and who to contact to file complain or request as such.
Ex: some states give you a $9.00 or even $13.00 supplement towards the cell phone monthly bill.
Free Government Cell Phones says
The free government cell phone program is, as its name indicates, absolutely free, Gerard. Perhaps you have it confused with the part of the Lifeline Assistance program that offers $9.25 monthly discount on home landline phones. But rest assured that cell phones are free.
Here’s where you can find a complete list of free service providers in California:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states
Steve says
To all interested – why you’ve might of been denied SNAP’s.
[ As we know that SNAP’s makes it a possibility to be in the Governments Free Phone Assistance Program – LIFELINE ]
SNAP = Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program
Read this article: Poor illegal immigrants get food stamps denied to poor U.S. citizens
SOURCE: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/illegal-immigrants-get-food-stamps-denied-to-u.s.-citizens/article/2596115
Of Note: CIS expert David North –
“This looks very much like a billion-a-year problem, and all totally unnecessary,” he wrote in the report titled, “An Aid Program that Routinely Discriminates in Favor of Ineligible Aliens.’
I’m PRO Government that works for its legal citizens, and wouldn’t a legal US Citizen be one who has a SS number. If SNAP’s program would have at the very least this requirement of a SSN for benefits, then none of this could happen (right)? I don’t know…
Steve
Steve says
Also do click on the link at the bottom that looks like this –
Read his full report here.
CIS expert David North
It opens in a pdf window in my IE browser
[CIS = Center for Immigration Studies
Anonymous Woman in Wa State says
that is a crock of s——.
Wlliam J. Beat on Medicaid. chaplainwj@gmail.com says
Is there any way to get a List of Company’s that authorize’s Free Government Cell OR home phone’s??? I need that List.
Free Government Cell Phones says
Hey, William, this website isn’t called FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net for nothing. We have a complete list of cell phone service providers (but no home phone providers because the home phones aren’t free). You can see the entire list of providers here:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/free-cell-phone-providers
Or you can find a complete list of providers broken down on a state-by-state basis here:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states
Steve says
Hello FGCP site and readers,
I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
As for now, this is all on paper, in the works, to come down the pike.
In the end what will be – will be – that’s what my guess is.
FCC makes it sound like we’re getting something more from the Lifeline program, are we the subscribers really getting something more or is the FCC burdening the Lifeline Assistance program and that of it’s suppliers even more on a mere once month subsidy of only $9.25 per month – per subscriber, with the adding of this New Lifeline Broadband.
Please don’t take it wrong, but this is not what I envisioned, It’s almost a win – fail rolled into one here. The $9.25 might be $9.95 – I’m not sure, but it’s to low to be adding more to it without an UP fee that is going to be passed on to us.
At least these FCC Gov. departments are trying to earn their wages and I hope that of our respect.
I must say, of all the years and money spent on this, the FCC Lifeline Broadband Pilot Programs, along with all the reductions of fraud and waste that plagued the existing Lifeline program – is this all we get – where is it a reworked, stronger and unified program, better than it was before and future proof for many years to come.
I don’t understand why the Lifeline Assistance program in name and offerings must be split, (with a Y -or- fork in the road), other than the original terms of service as previously stated-
“Consumers may receive a discount on either a wireline or wireless service, but not both.”
I had envisioned a unified Lifeline program built on a broadband foundation and supplied through that of a Hardwired or Wireless Lifeline Broadband service including Phone and Broadband Internet bundled together, using a Lifeline Service of your choice from one of the source suppliers (wired or wireless) to that of your state.
I’m surprised that the FCC hasn’t at least Re-worked the Lifeline Assistance program from the Roots up – making that of Broadband the main source, core or trunk – that the Lifeline Program and it’s services branch off of by either the means of a Hardwired or Wireless provider. As to be offered per the users choice in options of their State of residence and address location and that of their available inter-structure of supply mediums necessary to deliver the Lifeline Assisted Broadband Program to them.
The FCC Broadband Pilot programs they have done, should of turned out new program ideals with a keen insight that this Broadband technology, has with it a strong possibly to be the main core of supply means in the delivery methods or systems that the Lifeline assistance program could flourish on.
Then also offering that of a strong possibly to the future proofing of the Lifeline program for many more years to come.
As well as bring down the costs across all the program entities.
[ I just wished the Lifeline service providers (Phone Companies) would at least try to earn our RESPECT through a better and richer customer experience environment, FGCP I’m talking about all of your readers complaints here – about these Lifeline service suppliers today and over the past years.]
As most of their Lifeline customers are not the young educated, employed, tech savvy and well off, who would hardly need this Gov. subsidy program or would qualify for it anyway.
BUT – yet do these Lifeline service providers gear their companies or customer service departments as to the needs of these – their real customers they serve, and then to even try to offer the extra help that many show they really need, I SAY NO…
As well as the many posters here – of your covered providers pages.
I say Lifeline providers customer support is one area the FCC needed to address in it’s reform/rework of the Lifeline Assistance Program.
Why can’t the FCC make it so, in some rule or description to these Lifeline service providers, that it being a requirement of a higher level of customer service/support that must be maintain for them to remain the Lifeline program.
Then the FCC could offer us (users) a grading survey or report card at our recertification time, of our experiences through out the year with that of our specific Lifeline service providers.
I wished the FCC would offer to us, a Hot Line number to a real USAC actions committee to make a report to, for an investigation or act upon a particular matter that is interfering with our service that the Lifeline service provider has failed to resolve for us.
Your mention of-
Our contact at the USAC tells us, “A Lifeline Broadband Provider is an entity that offers Broadband service only. These could be companies that currently do not offer Lifeline service because they do not offer voice or new companies that decide to offer broadband.
Leaves me with the question what was the FCC logic and thinking,
when it could have made Lifeline so much more and simplified at the same time, with the FCC Broadband adoption as it’s core service in the Lifeline supporting areas of the Phone calling feature as well as with the Internet, all this yielding from a hardwired or wireless network provider. Just as the Major wired and wireless service providers already do outside of the Lifeline program.
Will this open up the excesses in waste and a new fraud gate yet once again in the Lifeline assistance Program?
I do thank you for your article, time and the heads up about it.
Maybe I’ve missed something in my reading of the above article.
If so I apologize for it, as I’m just a typical Lifeline user, poor and old.
Thanks, Steve
David says
will existing customers be able to either get or buy smartphones now?
Free Government Cell Phones says
Most Lifeline companies already offer smartphones, David. Some offer them upon enrollment and others offer them as upgrades. Here’s an article that tells you more:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/which-lifeline-cell-phone-companies-offer-smartphones
Robert says
While I agree that the speeds are low, how can anyone argue with free. Especially when you’re lucky to have $300 left over after paying all obligations and living in a city that ain’t cheap…Chicago.
Free Government Cell Phones says
An excellent point, Robert. It is, indeed, difficult to argue with free.