Oh dear, you have no idea how vital the “Obama phones” are to people on the street, and Friday there will be a hearing to discontinue the program – please sign this petition.
This breaks my heart. There are so many people who rely on these phones to call when they are in danger or sick. And, they use the phones to stay in touch with doctors, mental health providers, potential employers and their limited support network. Imagine sleeping under a bridge and getting beaten up and not being able to call anyone. Or sleeping in a park and feeling sick and needing help in some kind of way. These phones are essential.
The low-income Lifeline telephone program is in jeopardy. The House Communications and Technology Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the Lifeline program on April 25. Sign this petition now so we can deliver it to the committee in advance of the hearing.
A recent Washington Post article highlighted growing criticism by conservatives of the low-income phone subsidy program known as Lifeline. Critics call the program “Obama phones,” which is ironic because the program was founded under President Ronald Reagan’s administration and expanded to include cellphone service during the presidency of George W. Bush.
Here’s the petition.
Save Wireless Lifeline!
A recent Washington Post article highlighted growing criticism of the low-income phone subsidy program known as Lifeline, which was founded under President Ronald Reagan’s administration and expanded to include cellphone service during the presidency of George W. Bush.
Despite its Republican beginnings, this crucial subsidy that keeps low-income families connected to schools and job opportunities and to E-911 has come under attack by conservatives who mischaracterize the program as a massive giveaway called “Obama phones” being distributed at taxpayer expense. In fact, wireless and landline Lifeline programs are funded by the Universal Service Fund (USF). Telecommunications providers must contribute to the USF through an assessment on their interstate and international revenues. While the telecommunications providers typically pass the USF assessement on to customers in their bills, Lifeline subsidies are not taxpayer funded.
The House Communications and Technology Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the Lifeline program on April 25. Sign this petition now so we can deliver it to the committee in advance of the hearing.
Let your elected representatives know that you strongly oppose any cuts to Lifeline. Sign our petition to protect low-income Lifeline telephone subsidies:
– Curbing Wireless Lifeline will harm families, seniors, veterans, minorities and other key groups of low-income Americans.
– Wireless lifeline delivers important benefits to low-income families, including helping people find work, stay connected to schools and seek help in an emergency.
– Efforts already are ongoing by the Federal Communications Commission to curb fraud and make wireless Lifeline more efficient.
– The Lifeline program is not taxpayer funded but paid for by assessments on telecommunications carriers.
Thank you for signing this petition to preserve the low-income Lifeline program for both landlines and wireless phones.
