Posted on 08/02/2011 4:00:47 PM PDT by iowamark
Pennsylvanians on public assistance now have a new 'civil right' -- free cell phones. Meanwhile, the rest of us get to pay higher cell bills as a result.
Recently, a federal government program called the Universal Service Fund came to the Keystone State and some residents are thrilled because it means they can enjoy 250 minutes a month and a handset for free, just because they don't have the money to pay for it. Through Assurance Wireless and SafeLink from Tracfone Wireless these folks get to reach out and touch someone while the cost of their service is paid for by everyone else. You see, the telecommunications companies are funding the Universal Service Fund to the tune of $4 billion a year because the feds said they have to and in order to recoup their money, the companies turn around and hike their fees to paying customers. But those of use paying for the free service for the poor, should be happy about this infuriating situation, says Gary Carter, manager of national partnerships for Assurance, because "the program is about peace of mind." Free cell service means "one less bill that someone has to pay, so they can pay their rent or for day care...it is a right to have peace of mind," Cater explained...
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
insanity
There are lots of taxes that we are not aware of - this is one of those “indirect” taxes. It sucks.
Buying votes !!!
Was this program cut today? I doubt it. Anything to keep certain demographics from rioting in the streets.
The Universal Service Fund Fee National and State is on your bills every month. It’s just another tax, they flim flamed on the public and created another slush fund. On my bill the federal one is $3.79 and the state one is $1.51. Nine will get you ten the free phones are paid by the state fund, and the feds keep their nice slush fund and I’d be willing to bet that a chunk of money winds up in the CWA unions hands to buy votes for the democrats. And/or a bunch of it used to bail out the CWA pension plans that got hocked to buy air time for democrats.
Our little piece of the USF fee is about $10,000 a year dependending on our traffic, and we’re just a small provider. Can you imagine how much they’re getting with the thousands of small payphone providers, phone card providers, cell phone providers, et al.
Yes it is.
These are the services we provided when I was a supervisor at the state employment commissions in Iowa and Texas: Grant money (TANF or “welfare”), free bus passes or gasoline credit cards, free daycare, food stamps, WIC, free laptops with an ISP and warranty, career and family counseling, clothing for interviews, free technical/2 year or 4 year degrees, surplus food, free job fairs with employers, etc. And I’m sure I’ve forgotten something.
We’ve had the free phone program here for a year or two and there was a story on the local news a couple of nights ago that we just got the federal bucks to bring high speed internet to everyone because the poor and disadvantaged either have no access or must suffer through dial-up. I kid you not. It is a disgrace.
This is everywhere.
Public librarians know what is going on. All day long they troop into libraries for forms and to use the computers to get the latest government program. If they are from the wrong state or something, they just make up addresses, etc.
Low cost Perhaps to the families, but if the internet is government funded, then not lower cost to the taxpayers when we consider the higher interest we will be paying to service the debt to pay for all these “civil rights” :( Of course
I know a couple (unmarried, live together) in TX, she is a transcriptionist, and makes 13 dollars a page for doctors. She makes about 40,000 a year, and she has one of those free phones.
He makes about 80,000 a year, and gets food stamps, and medicare part D, or whatever the one is called where the government pays for the whole thing.
His big peeve was that it doesn’t pay for viagra. People just have no shame anymore.
Of course, if they are funded by internet companies, then we all pay with higher fees.
I can't afford a private jet! Where do I sign up to get a free one from the government??
Thank you for the reference to Post #20! RUSH should post it on his website and scream about it ON AIR!! Hannity is toooo Braindead and impressed with Himself to figure this out! What amazes me, is that thruout this insane Debt Debacle, not one person on the Right screamed about the Three Debt Increases the RATS approved by themselves since Obozo HUSSEIN became King and screamed about how much those Debt Ceiling Increases were and then coupled that Tottal to this Obscene $2.7 Trillion increase that will only cover HUSSEIN’S excess spending for roughly 18 months until one month after HUSSEIN’s new Electorial Assault on America in November of 2012!!!! BEYOND TREASONOUS!!! This is an ALL OUT TERRORIST ASSAULT ON AMERICA AND OUR FREEDOMS!!! and Shut the Borders NOW!! Stop this Obscene acceptance of every Illegal Dirtball who will Vote DEMORAT for Handouts, when Brilliant Engineers and Businesspeople from Switzerland, and all over Europe aren’t given a chance to come to America because they are civilized and talemted! and probably that most disgusting libtard word!!!! “WHITE CAUCASIAN!” May GOD SAVE OUR AMERICA for OUR CHILDREN and Theirs!!! Screw ALLAH and His Prophet according to Farrakkon, Obama HUSSEIN!!
Free lift tickets, free hot waxes, free gas/Diesel and food (incl "bar stamps" for free beer) would get me through the winter just fine.
If they have to pay for the cell phone how will they ever have the money to get their nails done?
I'd settle for free Commercial airfare and a free pass through the TSA b0z0s.
IIRC it is being challenged along with no tenure for new teachers, charter school funding, and medicaid changes.
Where CA lurched left in the 2010 elections, FL moved conservative.
Oh, and get this. EVERY proposed agency rule that could cost the private sector more than $1 million over five years must be approved by the FL Legislature. Imagine if the federal EPA had to get Congressional approval for every leftist rule they came up with.
I really wonder what is going to happen when this all crashes.
Lunacy is right. I know of private programs where people pay for cell phones for people in need. I even know of private citizens who simply add friends or family in need to their cell phone accounts. Its a charitable thing to do and helps people stay in contact with family and get jobs. However, turning this into a GOVERNMENT program is insane. No one has a right under the Constitution to a freakin cell phone. This is the corrupt Welfare State to the extreme.
I remember a Firing Line debate once where Buckley squared off against John Kenneth Galbraith about the scope of the Welfare State. Buckley was teasing Galbraith in one exchange, asking if Galbraith thought the state should pay for people’s false teeth and telephone bills. Galbraith said something like, “That’s ridiculous.” But yesterday’s “ridiculous” is today’s “Civil Right”, whether its free cell phones or gay marriage.
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