Whenever you and I got our first cell phones, we likely saw them as a luxury, an achievement. We had embraced technology, and now we had new ways to stay in touch with people and to master the changing technology of our environment. We’ve seen roaming charges come and go and our cell phones become a literal lifeline for us.
So, did you know there is a government program that’s been around since the Reagan years to provide telephone and cellular service to low income people? It’s called the Lifeline Assistance and Link-Up program. It isn’t paid for with our taxes. Instead, there is a charge on our phone bills for “USF,” the “Universal Services Fund,” that pays for this and other telephone programs, such as providing telephone service to remote rural areas.
Now the Lifeline Assistance and Link-Up program is under attack. Just like we’ve seen with banks that got TARP funds from taxpayers but still paid bonuses like nothing had ever happened, there are telecommunications companies that want federal rules changed to cut off people from basic telephone or limited cellular service (needed to access 911 safety services), because it’s not profitable for them even though we are paying for it.