Free phones in Southern Oklahoma

[Westsidebob]

As much as I would like to blame this Obama, this was around long before him.

 

[inactive]

I've seen one of the vans in Ponca. As I understand it they are recycled phones? Does the person getting one, have to pay for the service at all, or is it totally free?
Do they have to produce an old tax form or something to show they are below a certain income level, or is it just walk up and walk away with a phone?

The program website:
http://www.fcc.gov/lifeline

A local provider for OK:
http://www.assistwireless.com/

Are you on food stamps?
Are you on Medicaid?
Are you on Social Security?
Federal Housing Assistance Program (FPHA)
Section 8 - Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
National School Lunch's Free Lunch Program (NSL)
Temporary-Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

I think you just have to have some form showing you qualify (proof of food stamps, so like an EBT card; proof of Medacaid, soyour Soonercare "insurance" card, etc; and you walk away with a phone and some paperwork without laying out a red cent - I have plenty of family that are leeching off of this and know they wouldn't put up a buck for it out of their own pocket). There are two free plans listed at Assist Wireless, and then some Unlimited voice plan that costs 5 bucks, or a 1000 minutes/texts that costs $1 per month. Phones are free it appears, they may well be refurb or recycled though I have no idea honestly.


They sell the 1000 shared minutes/text plan to non-Lifeline qualified customers for $36 per month. That actually doesn't look like a bad deal.

 

[dennishoddy]

Thanks for the info.

 

[TedKennedy]

KOTV in Tulsa just did a story on this Friday 10/26. It's a huge scam to get as many folks as possible, as the Gunmint(our $$$) pays a subsidy to phone companies handing these out.
The undercover reporter found many places around Tulsa willing to sign her up w/o the EBT verification or anything else.
Most phone providers get a 10 dollar kick from the guv, but Oklahoma gets 'em 25 bucks because of some Indian agreement. Funny it was an Indian chick that got KOTV to look into it. Kudos to her!!!!

 

[LightningCrash]

As much as I would like to blame this Obama, this was around long before him.

Whatever it is... even if Truman started it, if Obama continues it, it's Obama [noun]s.

 

[Mr10mm]

Yes, the coveted swing votes of Marietta, Oklahoma. Of course that's what's going on. What are you, crazy?

LMAO, sig line

 

[tntrex]

Better than jb's van. It seems a bit shady.

 

[LightningCrash]

quoting veggie meat here:

Republicans are the ones to hold responsible for the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that mandated the Universal Service Fund.

 

[HackerF15E]

But....but....but....it's so much more fun to say 'Obama phone' instead of 'Reagan Phone'!

 

[WTJ]

But....but....but....it's so much more fun to say 'Obama phone' instead of 'Reagan Phone'!

1996 sounds like a Klinton phone. He would be the guy that signed the thing into law. Hmmmmm.