"Q LINK WIRELESS FREE SENIOR CELL PHONE" PROGRAM
Link-Up.
Q Wireless.
Across the USA.
Program Description
"With Q Link, we are able to offer free cell phones and airtime under the Lifeline Program to eligible Americans. States set their own guidelines of who is eligible, though most people who qualify for medicaid, temporary assistance for needy families, food stamps, federal housing/section 8 assistance, supplemental security income, low income home energy assistance program, national free school lunch will be eligible."
-qlinkwireless.com
The "Q Link Wireless” Program provides a discount benefit to low income seniors, families and others. If seniors qualify they will receive a free cell phone and 250 free minutes every month.
If eligible, free senior cell phone and cell service also includes:
Free 911
Local calls
National long distance
Voicemail
Domestic texting
Caller ID
Call Waiting
Roaming at no additional cost (domestic)
411 Directory
Carry-over minutes
Access to 100+ International long distance destinations
Seniors and others are eligible to receive free cell service if they are receiving federal assistance or have a household income that is at or below the federal poverty level. Seniors and others receiving Social Security, Food Stamps/SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8), Home Energy Assistance Programs and General Assistance are encouraged to apply. Other requirements may be needed for discounted cell service, as rules are specific to each state.
Upon enrollment seniors and others will be eligible for 12 months and will need to re-qualify once a year through annual certification.
Q Link Wireless service is limited to one per household and cannot be combined with any other Lifeline and/or Link-Up offering. Upgrading to a different phone or adding minutes is also an option.
The aim of the “Q Link Discounted Wireless” Program is to ensure that quality telecommunications services such as cell phones are available to low-income seniors and others at reasonable and affordable rates.
Lifeline and Link Up provide cell phone discounts that make telephone service and cell phone wireless service more affordable for more than 17 million Americans.
The Universal Service Fund program is not paid for by U.S. taxpayers but rather by telecommunications carriers who make funding for free cell phone and cell service possible.
The goals of the Universal Service Fund Universal Service as mandated by the 1996 Act, are to
*Promote the availability of quality services at just, reasonable and affordable rates for all consumers.
*Increase nationwide access to advanced telecommunications services.
*Advance the availability of such services to all consumers, including those in low income, rural, insular, and high cost areas at rates that are reasonably comparable to those charged in urban areas.
*Increase access to telecommunications and advanced services in schools, libraries and rural health care facilities.
*Provide equitable and non-discriminatory contributions from all providers of telecommunications services to the fund supporting universal service programs.
source:qlinkwireless.com,transition.fcc.gov
