“Obamaphones” may be about to go wireless.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is looking into revamping their “Lifeline” program, which currently provides about $10 a month of subsidized phone service to millions of low-income families, and adding broadband services.
The Lifeline program dates back to the Reagan administration, but has become more controversial in recent years with Republican lawmakers noting that its price-tag has climbed into the billions.
The FCC’s Democratic commissioners, and at least one Republican commissioner, are now raring to bring the program into the internet age, and allow participants to opt to use their $10 a month towards wireless data or broadband.
“The Lifeline program, established in the mid ’80s, has been stuck in the mid ’80s,” Democratic FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn told National Journal.
The program became infamous during the 2012 election, after a video of an adamant female Obama supporter talking about “Obamaphones” went viral. “Everyone in Cleveland, low minority, got Obamaphone,” the woman yelled. “Keep Obama in president, you know. He gave us a phone.”
The program has also been plagued with fraud problems, and accused of propping up companies who use it to turn a profit.
Many congressional Republicans have since proposed getting rid of the program or restricting it to only landlines. The controversy even made an appearance in Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.) tea party response to the State of the Union address in 2013. “The president offers you free stuff, but his policies keep you poor,” said Paul. “For those who are struggling, we want to you to have something infinitely more valuable than a free phone.”
Americans can qualify for Lifeline if their household income is at or below 135% of Federal Poverty guidelines, or if they already qualify for a government aid program like Medicaid or Food Stamps.
