Watch Obama Phone Viral Videos
Two videos that went viral about the Obama Phone, the "free government cellphone" from the government Lifeline program that was started by Reagan. June 2013 an Obama phone viral video shows a problem with program abuses. In 2012 an Obama phone viral video shows a lady who has a free government phone talking about the "Obama Phone" program. She expresses her enthusiasm for the "Obama Phone" and other programs that help people get stuff for free from the taxpayers of America (she thinks it comes from Obama, however.). --> .
"Obama Phone" is the popular, unofficial term that refers to free communications phones provided by the "Lifeline Program" to eligible Americans. See below for more details about the "Obama Phone."*
Click here to find out how to get your free Obama Phone
Lifeline is a government benefit program that provides discounts on monthly telephone service (i.e. the "Obama Phone") for eligible low-income consumers to help ensure they have the opportunities and security that telephone service affords, including being able to connect to jobs, family, and 911 services. Lifeline is supported by the federal Universal Service Fund (USF). This program is intended for needy people only.
Who Pays for the Lifeline Program and the "Obama Phone"?
If you watch Obama phone viral videos, you would think they were free from the government. But the "Obama Phone" is not really "free." You may be one of the people that helps pay for the program through FCC taxes on your phone bill. All telecommunications service providers and certain other providers of telecommunications must contribute to the federal USF based on a percentage of their end-user telecommunications revenues. These companies include wireline telephone companies, wireless telephone companies, and certain Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers. Some consumers may notice a “Universal Service” line item on their telephone bills. This line item appears when a company chooses to recover its USF contributions directly from its customers by billing them this charge. The FCC does not require this charge to be passed on to customers. Each company makes a business decision about whether and how to assess charges to recover its Universal Service costs.How can I get an Obama Phone?
Program Eligibility Verification - Acceptable documentation when applying for the "Obama Phone" and other related programms includes: Current or prior year's statement of benefits from a qualifying program; notice letter of participation in qualifying program; program participation documents (or copy); or another official document of a qualifying program. Income Eligibility Verification - Acceptable documentation includes: The prior year's state, federal or Tribal tax return; current income statement from an employer or paycheck stub; Social Security statement of benefits; Veterans Administration statement of benefits; Retirement or pension statement of benefits; Unemployment or Workers' Compensation statement of benefits; Federal or Tribal notice letter of participation in General Assistance; or divorce decree, child support award, or other official document containing income information. The consumer must present the same type of documentation covering 3 consecutive months within the previous 12 months, if the documentation does not cover a full year of income.
Who Qualifies for the Obama Phone?
The Lifeline program is available to eligible low-income consumers in every state, territory, commonwealth, and on Tribal lands. You must be eligible to enroll. To participate in the program, consumers 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);
Supplemental Security Income (SSI);
Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8);
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP);
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF);
National School Lunch Program's Free Lunch Program;
Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance;
Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TTANF);
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR);
Head Start (if income eligibility criteria are met); or
State assistance programs (if applicable).
*Source of this information is public information published on the FCC website.
The video seen in this blog is the suddenly-famous viral video about the Obama Phones.
Obama Phone blogs and websites are not affiliated with the FCC, the Lifeline Program or any other governmental agency or company.
