Fri 7 Oct, 2011
Benefits of Using SafeLink Wireless
Comments (0) Filed under: CommunicationsTags: Communications, free government cell phones
What if someone offers you a cell phone for free and say you can use it without paying any bills. It is hard to believe and seems like luck has favored us finally. Every low income house in America is eligible to get such a phone which is now getting popular as Obama pchones. In reality this free government cell phone program is not linked with our President in any way, except for the fact it has become famous in his reign.
The Federal Communications commission (FCC) introduced a program called Lifeline in 1984 when Ronald Reagan was ruling. This program was designed to provide affordable communication services to people living under poverty standards. Since there were no cell phones at that time, the program offered discounts on the monthly bills of landline telephones for customers with very low income. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 enhanced this program further under the name SafeLink Wireless.
FCC set up a tie up with TracFone Wireless, Inc who pays for the free cell phones provided, free airtime and promotion campaigns. The government does not use any of the tax payers money for this program. SafeLink program does not cover the landline telephones. If the customer wishes to participate in the free government cell phone program, they should subscribe out of the Lifeline services if they have any and apply under SafeLink Wireless Lifeline service.
The free cell phone provided under the SafeLink Wireless service has all facilities in a normal mobile phone like voicemail, caller ID, three-way calling facilities, text messaging and call waiting. Instead of offering discount in bills as in Lifeline program, this scheme provides free minutes to its customers. 31 states in America participate in this SafeLink Wireless program. Their official website has the facility to check whether a state participates in the program or not, by entering the zip code.
The free government cell phone program benefits citizens who live under the poverty standards set by the government. The free cell phone is given only to a person who does not earn enough to pay for a cell phone on their own. So the eligibility criteria thoroughly checks if the person is really poor, through various ways. Once the background check is cleared the phone will be sent to the customer within one week. The customer need not sign any contract or pay any bill whatsoever to use this free cell phone.
Want to find out more about Government free cell phones, then visit Ed Walters’s site on how to choose the best free government cell phone for your needs.