Nexus Communications, Inc., providing service under the name ReachOut Wireless™, provides Lifeline, a government assistance program that provides discounts on wireless service for qualified consumers. ReachOut Wireless™ offers a wireless services in place of older technologies like landline phone service.
To obtain ReachOut Wireless™ Lifeline service, potential subscribers must meet certain eligibility requirements such as receiving governmental assistance or a household income that is at or below 135% of the federal poverty level in most states. The specifics of what determines a potential subscriber's eligibility may vary somewhat by state. ReachOut Wireless™ service is limited to one per household, and cannot be combined with any other Lifeline offering. LifeLine benefits may not be transferred.
ReachOut Wireless™ government assisted wireless offering is part of the Lifeline program. The Lifeline Assistance program is only one part of the Universal Service Fund (USF) which exists to ensure that quality telecommunications services are available to low-income subscribers at just, reasonable and affordable rates. The Lifeline program provides a discount that make telephone service (and wireless service) more affordable for millions of Americans.
The USF is not a tax paid by U.S. taxpayers. Rather, the USF is funded by contributions by telecommunications carriers collected in part from the Universal Service Charge applicable to all forms of interstate telecommunication services. The wireline and wireless companies that provide Lifeline are approved to participate in the program of the USF for the revenue they forgo by providing discounted service to eligible consumers. ReachOut Wireless™ is also committed to the "Wireless Eligible Telecommunication Carrier Commitment to Best Practices".
Friday, March 21, 2014
Do I qualify for Safelink Wireless Obama Phone
The Lifeline program is available to eligible consumers in selected states and territories. Actual requirements vary by state, but in general to qualify for Lifeline, subscribers must either have an income that is at or below 135% of the federal Poverty Guidelines, or participate in one of the following assistance programs:
* Medicaid
* Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps or SNAP).
* Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).
* Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
* The National School Lunch Program's Free Lunch Program.
* Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
* Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8).
* Other assistance programs in your state.
* Medicaid
* Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps or SNAP).
* Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).
* Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
* The National School Lunch Program's Free Lunch Program.
* Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
* Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8).
* Other assistance programs in your state.
Safelink Wireless Obama Phone
What SafeLink Wireless is proud to offer Lifeline service, which is a program that enables qualifying customers to receive discounts on monthly telephone service. In our version of the program, you will receive free cellular service, a free SafeLink Wireless cell phone and the assurance that you will get no bills and no contracts EVER!
Through SafeLink Wireless’ Lifeline you can receive*:
A FREE SafeLink Wireless phone.
Three different plans to choose from with FREE Monthly minutes.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with the help of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) administers the federal Universal Service Fund (USF) that supports the Lifeline program, which has helped low-income consumers afford phone service since 1984.
(*) Benefits vary by state.
Through SafeLink Wireless’ Lifeline you can receive*:
A FREE SafeLink Wireless phone.
Three different plans to choose from with FREE Monthly minutes.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with the help of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) administers the federal Universal Service Fund (USF) that supports the Lifeline program, which has helped low-income consumers afford phone service since 1984.
(*) Benefits vary by state.
The Federal Communications Commission has taken another major step in its efforts to reduce fraud and abuse in the Obama Phone program by assessing $90 million in fines against eleven companies that participate in the program across the country.
According to a report by St Louis, Missouri’s KMOV News 4, the fines have even been assessed against two companies that previously told the station that the allegations were nothing to worry about.
The FCC stated that Maryland-based Cintex Wireless intentionally targeted customers whose incomes were not low enough to qualify for Obama Phones. The company “earned” millions of dollars by enrolling these unqualified people.
When KMOV sent its news team to research the story, one Cintex representatives claimed to know nothing about the fines and another one was on vacation.
Despite the fact that Cintex’ legal team says they abide by the rules of the Obama Phone program, the FCC hit the company with a $9.5 million fine for allegedly violating the rules.
In an earlier report, the KMOV News 4 team learned that Life Wireless, a division of Telrite, was shipping Obama Phones to Missouri residents who said they had never enrolled in the program. After conducting a thorough audit of the company’s business, the FCC agreed and imposed a $22 million fine.
Global Connection, another Obama Phone competitor, was assessed a $12 million fine on the same day.
In addition to the $43.5 million in fines on Cintex, Life Wireless and Global Connection, the FCC has imposed fines of nearly $47 million against 8 additional Lifeline Assistance (Obama Phone) providers in the last three months. The companies have two options — either pay the fines or appeal them — and it has yet to be determined which choice the companies will make.
According to industry observers, there may be more than 2 million fraudulent Obama Phone accounts. The program has been plagued with fraud and abuse and the intent of the FCC audits are intended to clean up the troubled program.
According to a report by St Louis, Missouri’s KMOV News 4, the fines have even been assessed against two companies that previously told the station that the allegations were nothing to worry about.
The FCC stated that Maryland-based Cintex Wireless intentionally targeted customers whose incomes were not low enough to qualify for Obama Phones. The company “earned” millions of dollars by enrolling these unqualified people.
When KMOV sent its news team to research the story, one Cintex representatives claimed to know nothing about the fines and another one was on vacation.
Despite the fact that Cintex’ legal team says they abide by the rules of the Obama Phone program, the FCC hit the company with a $9.5 million fine for allegedly violating the rules.
In an earlier report, the KMOV News 4 team learned that Life Wireless, a division of Telrite, was shipping Obama Phones to Missouri residents who said they had never enrolled in the program. After conducting a thorough audit of the company’s business, the FCC agreed and imposed a $22 million fine.
Global Connection, another Obama Phone competitor, was assessed a $12 million fine on the same day.
In addition to the $43.5 million in fines on Cintex, Life Wireless and Global Connection, the FCC has imposed fines of nearly $47 million against 8 additional Lifeline Assistance (Obama Phone) providers in the last three months. The companies have two options — either pay the fines or appeal them — and it has yet to be determined which choice the companies will make.
According to industry observers, there may be more than 2 million fraudulent Obama Phone accounts. The program has been plagued with fraud and abuse and the intent of the FCC audits are intended to clean up the troubled program.
Landlines versus Obama cell phones
One of the most commonly asked questions is, Why does the government’s Lifeline Assistance program offer only partial subsidies on landlines, but full subsidies on cell phones?
The answer is that cell phone service costs far less than landline service. Consider the fact that landline service requires wire (or cable) to be run from a central location to every house, apartment, condominium, and business. Therefore, landlines require huge human and capital investments. Cell phones, on the other hand, cellular towers are installed to support large customer basis. In addition, cell phone minutes can be capped at a certain level (250 minutes in these programs) and 1000 text messages. Text Messages are extremely inexpensive for cell phone companies to provide.
Landlines are quickly disappearing. In fact, many American households now have no landline service because cell phones are cheaper, easier to use, and do so much more.
The Obama Phone program responds to this situation by helping more and more needy Americans to obtain cell phone service during the troubling economic times. In fact, about 20 million people have signed up for the program.
It is expected that millions of additional needy Americans would sign up for an Obama Phone if they knew more about the program.
The answer is that cell phone service costs far less than landline service. Consider the fact that landline service requires wire (or cable) to be run from a central location to every house, apartment, condominium, and business. Therefore, landlines require huge human and capital investments. Cell phones, on the other hand, cellular towers are installed to support large customer basis. In addition, cell phone minutes can be capped at a certain level (250 minutes in these programs) and 1000 text messages. Text Messages are extremely inexpensive for cell phone companies to provide.
Landlines are quickly disappearing. In fact, many American households now have no landline service because cell phones are cheaper, easier to use, and do so much more.
The Obama Phone program responds to this situation by helping more and more needy Americans to obtain cell phone service during the troubling economic times. In fact, about 20 million people have signed up for the program.
It is expected that millions of additional needy Americans would sign up for an Obama Phone if they knew more about the program.
the cell phone companies
Now that you understand the Obama Phone program and how it came to be, let’s look at the cell phone companies that participate in the program. Many are smaller regional companies that were established strictly to compete in this business. But, three major companies offer the service on a nearly nationwide basis: Safelink Wireless, ReachOut Wireless and Assurance Wireless.
There are many other smaller, regional Lifeline providers. They include Assist Wireless, Budget Mobile, Cintex Wireless, Care Wireless, I-Wireless, Life Wireless, StandUp Wireless, Terracom Wireless, YourTel Wireless, True Wireless, Tag Mobile, Wireless for Hope, and Alaska Communications.
As the program expands, other regional companies are entering the business. The existing competitors are expected to begin competing in additional states.
There are many other smaller, regional Lifeline providers. They include Assist Wireless, Budget Mobile, Cintex Wireless, Care Wireless, I-Wireless, Life Wireless, StandUp Wireless, Terracom Wireless, YourTel Wireless, True Wireless, Tag Mobile, Wireless for Hope, and Alaska Communications.
As the program expands, other regional companies are entering the business. The existing competitors are expected to begin competing in additional states.
Obama Phone a quick history
Let’s take a quick look back at the actual origins of the Obama Phone program. You may be surprised to learn that it all began long before cell phones were invented.
In the 1980s, during the Reagan administration, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created the Universal Access Initiative. The goal was to “promote the availability of quality services at just, reasonable and affordable rates for all consumers.” After years of study, they proposed what we now call the Obama Phone.
In the beginning, the Obama Phone offered subsidized phone service to Americans who were living at or below the poverty level. Please remember, this was in the early-to-mid-1980s, long before cell phones were invented, so this subsidy covered landlines only.
Later, the FCC introduced the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which proposed the Universal Service Fund requiring all providers of telecommunications services to contribute to a fund that would be used to increase nationwide access to advanced telecommunications services. The goal, according to the FCC, was to “advance the availability of such services to all consumers, including those in low income, rural, insular, and high-cost areas at rates that are reasonably comparable to those charged in urban areas.”
In other words, the FCC recognized that landlines were decreasing in importance as cell phones were increasing in use.
President Bill Clinton quickly signed the Telecommunications Act into law and President George Bush continued the program. President Barack Obama has followed in their footsteps, and there is widespread confidence that succeeding presidents will continue to support the Obama Phone program.
In the 1980s, during the Reagan administration, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created the Universal Access Initiative. The goal was to “promote the availability of quality services at just, reasonable and affordable rates for all consumers.” After years of study, they proposed what we now call the Obama Phone.
In the beginning, the Obama Phone offered subsidized phone service to Americans who were living at or below the poverty level. Please remember, this was in the early-to-mid-1980s, long before cell phones were invented, so this subsidy covered landlines only.
Later, the FCC introduced the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which proposed the Universal Service Fund requiring all providers of telecommunications services to contribute to a fund that would be used to increase nationwide access to advanced telecommunications services. The goal, according to the FCC, was to “advance the availability of such services to all consumers, including those in low income, rural, insular, and high-cost areas at rates that are reasonably comparable to those charged in urban areas.”
In other words, the FCC recognized that landlines were decreasing in importance as cell phones were increasing in use.
President Bill Clinton quickly signed the Telecommunications Act into law and President George Bush continued the program. President Barack Obama has followed in their footsteps, and there is widespread confidence that succeeding presidents will continue to support the Obama Phone program.
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