Posted on 08/05/2011 3:04:01 PM PDT by NoLibZone
Did you know that some of the fees that you pay on your phone bill may actually be providing free cell service to people with low incomes?
A debate started in Pennsylvania after people became aware of the program, which offers a free phone and 250 minutes a month.
Here's how at works:
The FCC requires all phone companies to pay into something called the Universal Service Fund.
Companies get the money they send to the fund by charging you on you bill.
Money from the fund goes to companies who provide the free service to help offset their cost.
People across the country are using this free service and if you have a cell phone, you're paying for it.
Supporters say the cell phone provides a needed lifeline that helps people get to doctors and stay in touch with loved ones.
Critics say cell phone service isn't a right. Read more about this story.
What do you think about this?
Watch the discussion on this story by viewing the attached Now@9 video.
Read more: http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/now_at_nine/are-you-paying-to-provide-free-cell-service-to-people-with-low-incomes#ixzz1UC3B3k3F
Free GM union cars and gas in areas that lack public transportation will be coming soon.
Eh. It’s a lie anyway. I have a friend on disability who thought to subscribe to something like this, and ended up at the end of the month with a 50 dollar bill with all of the then fees explained in small print. If it makes you feel any better people get it stuck to them in the end anyway.
damn!
Now I regret my above post on cars.
It will be a campaign offer to buy votes by Obama soon.
This is also going to happen (probably already happening) with broadband internet too
“something like this” is not the new Universal Service Fund.
I wonder how many subsidized phones are used by flash mobs?
They also have the right to sing the blues and the right to cable TV.
This has been going on for a while.
Yes, we are paying to provide free phones and 250 minutes per month to “low income” people who cannot produce a photo ID or show their income.
Watch for the AT&T - TMobile merger to be approved providing they expand this program or something like it. It is the way of our DOJ.
I want a pony.
Response: Probably.
Comment: We even provide free treatment for their syphilis, gonorrhea, drug addiction, abortions and help provide without cost every other vice known to man free of charge.
Not only are we paying for the free phones and usage, we are paying for advertising to inform these looters on how to get their free phone. I would like to see a law that anyone using a cell phone in the commission of a felony, be denied a cell phone account until they are off probation.
It seems to me that these phones are probably pre-paids, which makes them largely untraceable.
There’s anecdotal evidence that a number of “poor” people live in some nice places (Section 8 rentals are not just in the ghetto), wear nice clothes, drive some nice vehicles like Lincoln Navigators (with wheel spinner accessories), yet they are officially in poverty.
bump.
Is Federal Universal Service Fee and Federal Universal Service Fee-Long Distance the same as Federal Universal Fund?
They whack me $2.56 / month.
This was another one of Algore’s bright ideas and it has been around for a long time. Got a food stamp card? You get a cell phone. The major problem is, non-freeloaders have to pay the bill for the freeloaders.
The poor are living better than the middle class that are working their ass off and still falling behind.
well thats even worse. we are paying for their phones and they are still getting billed. So what he hell is the government doing with all our money anyway?
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