1 million Ohioans using free phone program

Dayton Daily News ^ | September 2012 | Josh Sweigart

[yoe]

A program that provides subsidized phone service to low-income individuals has nearly doubled in size in Ohio in the past year — now covering more than a million people. At the same time, federal officials say they’re reining in waste, fraud and abuse in the program.

The Federal Communications Commission announced recently that reforms have saved $43 million since January and are expected to save $200 million by year’s end. In Ohio, savings are expected to be $2.9 million a year.

The savings were realized in part because the government gave out fewer cellphones to ineligible people and took steps to avoid issuing duplicate phones.

But the size of the program in the state — and profits to the increasing number of cellphone companies involved — has exploded in recent months, according to a Dayton Daily News analysis of program data.

The program in Ohio cost $26.9 million in the first quarter of 2012, the most recent data available, versus $15.6 million in the same timeframe in 2011. Compared to the first quarter of 2011, the number of people in the program nearly doubled to more than a million.

[PapaBear3625]

She said the 250 free minutes she gets per month through SafeLink isn’t enough to use it for much more than emergencies.

That's about 8 minutes per day, which is more than enough time to respond to calls from potential employers, which is the PURPOSE of it. This pisses me off.

[NoGrayZone]

Please...don't even get me started on our freakin cell phone bill.

There are almost 2 identical sets of charges. One the grubmint charges and then the other from the company to recoup those charges.

[Cicero]

It’s “savings” when you cut back $27 million in free gubbermint phones to $24 million? And I presume that doesn’t count all the new users who will join the party.

[spawn44]

These free phones are most likely programmed to receive voter alerts from THE FOREIGNER before the election. The most corrupt anti american regime in history. We must politically destroy this crowd come November and retake this country before its to late.

[HereInTheHeartland]

“which is the PURPOSE of it. “

No, the purpose of it is income redistribution. You have have a job, they don't want to get a job.
Therefore you are rich and are obligated to PAY YOUR FAIR SHARE.
What; are you against people having a phone?

They laugh at us when we let these programs get started. Pretty soon we will just have one government phone provider so “people aren't getting rich providing basic necessities to poor folks”.

I saw a short Obama ad last night that popped up on Hulu. It bragged how Obama had gotten rid of the greedy middleman banks in the student loan business. And thus there was much more money available to give out grants.
Made me seethe. True Marxist redistribution.

Obama’s spiritual father said it best: “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_each_according_to_his_ability,_to_each_according_to_his_need

[21twelve]

“The program in Ohio cost $26.9 million in the first quarter of 2012...versus $15.6 million in the same timeframe in 2011,...[with] the number of people in the program nearly doubled to more than a million.”

Just think of all the money they can save if they double the users again!

[NoGrayZone]

I think we are all trying our best. I know my boss is talking politics to almost every patient that walks through our doors.

Funny thing is, the “big barry” supporters of last election aren’t saying much now a days.

I just keep bringing up the US and worldly events happening at lightening speed....under barrys watch.

I get a lot of silence. Either they’re voting Romney, but can’t admit it or are staying home, nor can’t admit that either.

[21twelve]

Someone should photoshop that last scene from “It’s a Wonderful Life” with Jimmy Stewart:

“Hear that ring Daddy?” (Cellphone ringing)

“Teacher says that every time a phone rings,
it means that another Obama voter just got
a free cell phone.”

[ronnie raygun]

And this is a battleground state. It’s like running for office in the getto after you just handed out welfare checks, food stamps, free phones, disability and social security checks.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Free phones mean that the phone numbers at in the rats database.

I would love to know about the texts those phones are going to get leading up to election day.

[molson209]

A phone in every pot

[NoGrayZone]

No no no....can’t mix the innocent with evil1!!!! =)

[Mouton]

I wish someone would explain to me why any of these parasites need a phone in the first place. Frankly, in the over all scheme of things this is a small dollar amount BUT it is just one more brick in the entitlement wall.

I wish someone could invent a free phone wherein every once in a while like lotto, a 200AMP bolt goes through the ear piece and fries one of these suckers. I’d set it up as one every 10000calls to make it seem fair, except I would front end load it so the result is everyone gets the zap on their first call.

[ConservativeInPA]

I really wonder what will happen when the Obama phones and other handouts are taken away. It will happen one way or another. Either the country goes bankrupt or we cut this kind of wasteful spending. Both result in no phones.

Will there be a violent revolt when the gravy train is over for these lazy asses?

Personally, I want the welfare state to end now. I want my children to have a future. I am willing to suffer some short term pain to give that to them.

[MarDav]

Didn’t Maxwell Smart use that phone in the episode where Hymie, the robot entered into the race with the Kaos agent?

[rawcatslyentist]

Mc D’s must be runnin short on Nuggets again.

[HereInTheHeartland]

Very very good point. Now that is something that should be quietly looked into.
Would not surprise me at all, and would be very illegal.

[Iron Munro]

Researchers have compiled a list of features that distinguish the free ObamaPhone from a regular cell phone:

1. It automatically rejects calls from people with a different opinion.
2. Every time you take a picture, it produces a grimmer image of America.
3. It doesn't have a plan; it just keeps telling you how bad the other guy's plan is.
4. When it crashes, it blames your previous phone.
5. All 3 AM calls go directly to voicemail.
6. It has a really useless app called "Biden."
7. Pairing it with another device sucks all the energy out of the other unit.
8. Type in "job search" and it gives you directions to the welfare office.
9. The navigation feature covers all 57 States.
10. The default ringtone for international calls is "I'm sorry, so sorry, please accept my apology."
11. The healthcare app downloads and installs itself without your permission.
12. When you make a call, a teleprompter pops up to help you speak.
13. Restaurant reviews are all written by Michelle Obama.
14. There are never any winners on Angry Birds.
15. Instagram takes two months to process a photo and you have to fill out 3 PDFs to do so.
16. Paypal app is replaced with ReceivePal app.
17. You can't find "Jerusalem" on Google maps.
18. It turns all your Facebook friends into enemies and all your enemies into friends.
19. Don't want to work? There's an app for that, too.
20. It automatically bows down to phones made by foreign companies.
21. When you watch a YouTube video, a US ambassador gets killed.
22. When you dial "home", it calls Kenya.
23. As opposed to the iPhone, it's called the mePhone.

Hat Tip: The people's Cube

[MinuteGal]

If they're silent, they're voting for Obama.

Decades in politics and 20 years in elective office I can read all the signs, symptoms, tics and eye movements of the people with whom I bring up politics.

You can make book on my first sentence above.

Leni

[MarDav]

Shouldn’t taxpayers be allowed to designate which candidate can buy what votes with whatever giveaway they choose?

I want to designate on my tax return that the next Republican candidate for president can spend taxpayer dollars on spinner rims and extra-fuzzy dice so our party can finally secure enough Black and Hispanic voters.