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From the link you provided, clicking on Learn Program Information - About LifeLine:
The federal "Lifeline" program was created during the Reagan Administration. Lifeline is a federal program created by the Reagan era Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1984. The program was enhanced under Telecommunications Act of 1996, which was supported on a broadly bipartisan basis in Congress.
And directly contradicting your statement about "on the taxpayers dime":
SafeLink phones are not paid for by taxpayers or the federal government. TracFone Wireless pays for the phones and also the cost of promoting its SafeLink program to make sure that eligible consumers know about the program.
A doctor wrote an article on this and other bebefits of coming here and living off the labors of Americans . One works and 15 live off welfare .
She said one patiant really bothered her ,she came in the emergency room with 4 kids running around and one in the oven . had a nail job, exspensive shoes and a cell phone that kept ringing . She was ask to please turn it off . Doctos see this kind of crap all the time ,free medical, using ER for primary care .
Lifesaving test and procedures not available to Americans because the system is so backed up poor immigrants and their large families .
Detroit has problems with men who have several wives and dozens of kids now , media tries to hide it but it's on independant news .
When the party is over peopel are going to be mad when their demands are no longer met. Then the madmax nation will begin .
From the link you provided, clicking on Learn Program Information - About LifeLine:
The federal "Lifeline" program was created during the Reagan Administration. Lifeline is a federal program created by the Reagan era Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1984. The program was enhanced under Telecommunications Act of 1996, which was supported on a broadly bipartisan basis in Congress.
And directly contradicting your statement about "on the taxpayers dime":
SafeLink phones are not paid for by taxpayers or the federal government. TracFone Wireless pays for the phones and also the cost of promoting its SafeLink program to make sure that eligible consumers know about the program.
Who cares WHO enacted it? It is still wrong. And where does TracFone get it's subsidy? It says right on the site that it is government subsidized.
But if you choose any other..then we do pay..in our phone bills as part of the "Universal Service" charge.
There is some controversy over this fund and what services it should really be funding.
In Iowa it was used to provide free international calling and sex chat lines.
It's an approx 30 year old program where the poor, elderly, and rural users are subsidized for basic phone service. Phone service can be considered a necessity in today's (& even 1980's) world. It's supposed to be for a primary phone only but with cell phone prices dropping many cell phone companies found that they can prompt this subsidy program and make money by charging above market rates and charging for extra minutes. Most of the money in the program goes to rural support but it's the cell-phone-for-poor-folk segment that gets the bad press. The ads you see on TV prey on people who could get a better deal elsewhere.
The only reason I have a cell phone is for emergencies. I'm currently spending my own money on it so I can have one in my purse in case something happens because, silly me, I thought I was responsible for myself.
OK. I just checked out the 'Factcheck" link. So it is not payed for directly by taxes. It is payed for by an extra charge on your monthly phone bill. Big difference. The people paying it dont even know that they are being forced to pay for other people's phone bill.
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