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In March 2009 we did a story about a wireless phone plan that provides free cell phones for the poor through Safelink Wireless. Much to our surprise, it’s generated more controversy and more comments than any other story we’ve ever done (you really should read some of the thousands of comments. Frankly, it’s astonishing).
TracFone Wireless follows Safelink Wireless in giving free cell phones to the poor
Now Colorado is thinking about enrolling its poor in the same program.
The Denver Post reports:
“If approved, the plan by TracFone Wireless in Miami would make Colorado the 17th state it has settled into with free cell service for the indigent, a form of wireless welfare that proponents say taps into one of the last untapped markets for the telecom technology.
“Our hope is to have it up and running by September,” said Jose Fuentes, TracFone’s director of government relations. “Historically, it’s a very underutilized service, and we’d like that to change.”
In Colorado, it’s called LITAP — the Low Income Telephone Assistance Program — and is available to anyone receiving aid from any of six welfare funds…
The bad news is that you’re paying for this via the Universal Service Fund, one of those mysterious line item taxes listed on your monthly phone bill.
The good news is that you soon won’t have any money left and you’ll qualify for a free cell phone.
Congratulations!
Source: DenverPost.com
