The use of consumer-subsidized “Obamaphones” in Maryland grew 100-fold in three years, to 645,000, twice the number eligible for the program, Washington Examiner reports.
Officially called Lifeline, the federal program, administered by the Federal Communications Commission, provides free cell phone service to qualified low-income customers. Cell phone companies that sign up low-income customers are reimbursed $9.25 per customer through universal service charge fees on other cell phone customers’ monthly bills.
In testimony before the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology of the Committee on Energy and Commerce last year, a telecom consultant testified that:
“The greatest increase in Lifeline subscribership has occurred in Maryland. In the third quarter of 2009, there were only 6,504 Lifeline subscribers in Maryland, representing only 2 percent of the eligible low-income households in that state. By the third quarter of 2012, the number of Lifeline subscribers in Maryland had risen almost 100 fold to 645,000. Moreover, the current number of Lifeline subscribers in Maryland is almost double the number of low-income households in the state, as shown by the graph. The dashed red line is the number of eligible low-income households. The blue line is the number of Lifeline subscribers by quarter.”
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15 comments:
Gee, welfare fraud in Maryland. Who would've though!?
There are people out there with 8 or 10 of these free phones with free minutes on all of them. That's the way Democrats do business. Maryland taxpayers get what they deserve when they vote for Democrats.
They really really really want us to have a cell phone.
Why?
3:38 - the cell phones have built-in GPS units - they can track every movement between the GPS and the cell towers....
It's all about control....
Can You Say DRUG DEALERS ??? Many drug dealers get their ladies and friends get these phones and use them for drug deals as they are not tracked to them and then when done dump them and then they are gone. And when they have 6-10 of them the police will never know what ones to tap for criminal charges to be placed.
Actually, this program is funded by private communications companies and not by tax dollars. They especially benefit the poor and elderly, so I don't see the downside, or even register this as an issue in our country.
Why should I vote republican if I'm on welfare and lose all my goodies.
So when its voting time they get a call from Obama.
I hope these free phones are old flip phones or used ones turned in when someone upgrades. These people shouldn't be getting free smartphones unless they are paying something.
5:00 You are wrong. You and I are paying for this in our cell phone billing. The Democrats approved these charges thru franchise agreements. Therefore it isn't considered a tax but in reality it's a hidden tax.
"Anonymous said...
Actually, this program is funded by private communications companies and not by tax dollars. They especially benefit the poor and elderly, so I don't see the downside, or even register this as an issue in our country.
October 6, 2014 at 5:00 PM"
WRONG! It is most certainly funded by tax payers!
The Universal Service Fund overseen by the FCC is who funds the phones. Where do you think the USF gets it's money from? A tree? Some of the money comes from the "fee" we all pay on our phone bill, which is really a tax and a portion ($9.25/month) comes from the federal government-again tax payers money.
Lifeline is funded exclusively and solely by tax payers.
LOL 5:00! Where in the hell did you come up with this?
The communication companies have been awarded huge contracts from the federal government to participate in the program. All tax payers money. A part comes from the "fee" the rest of us pay for our phones.
I talked to someone who received one of these phones. They take them to save money on their Verizon, etc. phone bills. And yes, 5:00 tax dollars are paying for these. I only have a pay as you go phone. How can they afford Verizon phones?
8:12 that's right and the people who get free electric we pay for that as well in our electric bill
I know this couple who have 3 teenage kids who collect welfare insurance medical and dental, they take vacations to Hawaii almost once a year, amazing
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