Wireless, launched SafeLink Wireles in the state Nevada. SafeLink offers wireless
Lifeline service - a U.S. government supported program that ensures
telephone service is available and affordable for eligible low-income
households.
SafeLink reports that
184,161 residents who qualify for Lifeline services in the Nevada.
SafeLink provides the cell
phone at its own expense and service comes without contracts, monthly
bills, security deposits or credit checks.
SafeLink provides
eligible low-income households 60 free monthly airtime minutes for one
year, unlimited access to 911 and a free cell phone handset. Any unused
minutes do not expire but automatically roll over. The cell phone
offers in-demand features: voicemail, text, call waiting, international
calling to over 60 destinations, and caller ID.
While currently
available through most of the state, SafeLink may not be available in
some specific zip codes. To learn more about the SafeLink Wireless
service, including eligibility requirements and additional features and
benefits, please call
1-800-SAFELINK (1-800-723-3546), or www.safelink.com.
Safelink is also
available in Maine,
Ohio,
Georgia,
Tennessee
and Florida.
Another
free cell phone service for low-income households is
Assurance Wireless in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and New
York.
The federal
“Lifeline” program was created during the Reagan Administration.
Lifeline is a federal program created by the Reagan-era Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) in 1984. The program was enhanced under
the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which was supported on a broadly
bipartisan basis in Congress. The FCC’s Low Income Program of the
Universal Service Fund (USF), which is administered by the Universal
Service Administrative Company (USAC), is designed to ensure that
quality telecommunications services are available to low-income
customers at just, reasonable and affordable rates. Lifeline support
reduces eligible low-income consumers’ monthly charges for basic
telephone service.
With SafeLink, TracFone
is the first to modernize Lifeline for how people communicate today.
The prepaid feature gives customers the freedom to control the cost of
their monthly telephone expense without any surprises. SafeLink
customers wishing to use additional minutes beyond their free allotment
can add minutes by purchasing TracFone airtime cards at local retailers.
As an exclusive benefit for SafeLink customers, SafeLink phones will
automatically add bonus minutes on TracFone’s 60, 90 and 120 minute
airtime cards.
To qualify for Lifeline
in the state of Nevada, a household
must participate in one of the following: Federal Public Housing/
Section 8; Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP); Medicaid;
National School Lunch (NSL); Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(Food Stamps); Supplemental Security Income (SSI); Temporary Assistance
to Needy Families (TANF); or if your Total Household Income is at or
under 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. When applying based on
income, qualified applicants must submit documentation to verify total
household income.