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Started By
Message
'Obamaphone' use grew 100-fold in 3 years in Md. -- to twice the eligible number
Posted on 9/29/14 at 9:28 am
Posted on 9/29/14 at 9:28 am
LINK
quote:
645,000 Maryland residents had so-called Obamaphones in 2012 — one hundred times as many people as there were in 2009, and double the number in that state who are supposed to be eligible for the program based on their income.
The program, officially called Lifeline, is run by the Federal Communications Commission and imposes hefty fees on every paying phone company to give free phone service to low-income Americans.
The profits to telecom companies from the free, government-provided phone service are so great that in Nebraska alone, 51 corporations, many of them who are not even traditional phone companies building infrastructure and attracting paying subscribers, fought for a piece of the pie.
9
Posted on 9/29/14 at 9:30 am to wickowick
*Program has been around under multiple Republican administrations
Now that is out of the way, commence discussion
Now that is out of the way, commence discussion
Posted on 9/29/14 at 9:31 am to wickowick
The lifeline commercials they are running (at least in DC) are fricking terribly disingenous.
"Frank has cancer and is a veteran. The only way Frank can contact his doctor is through his lifeline phone. Don't take away Frank's lifeline"
"Frank has cancer and is a veteran. The only way Frank can contact his doctor is through his lifeline phone. Don't take away Frank's lifeline"
Posted on 9/29/14 at 9:32 am to jamboybarry
quote:
*Program has been around under multiple Republican administrations Now that is out of the way, commence discussion
Subsidies for big business, by big business.
Posted on 9/29/14 at 9:32 am to jamboybarry
Posted on 9/29/14 at 9:33 am to jamboybarry
Why does it having been in affect during other administrations in any way have ANY thing to do with the fact that the program is so rampantly being abused during THIS administration?
At some point, we as a people have got to reach the point of getting past playing politics like the idiots in charge want us to do and come to grips with the fact that this culture of entitlement that we've cultivated in this country just isn't sustainable.
At some point, we as a people have got to reach the point of getting past playing politics like the idiots in charge want us to do and come to grips with the fact that this culture of entitlement that we've cultivated in this country just isn't sustainable.
Posted on 9/29/14 at 9:34 am to The Third Leg
quote:
Subsidies for big business, by big business.
Yep. See my second post which is paid for by the American Prepaid Phone Association (or some bullshite gobbeldygook of the like)
Posted on 9/29/14 at 9:34 am to The Third Leg
Exactly. This is a "tax" that pays directly to phone companies.
Posted on 9/29/14 at 9:34 am to bamarep
quote:
Why does it having been in affect during other administrations in any way have ANY thing to do with the fact that the program is so rampantly being abused during THIS administration?
Because that is the talking point by those who defend these programs. Are you dense?
Posted on 9/29/14 at 10:14 am to wickowick
The ironic thing in this whole charade is that Tracphone - which is the largest provider - is a company owned by Carlos Slim of Mehico.......not even an American 
So basically, groups outside of the US are the beneficiaries.
So basically, groups outside of the US are the beneficiaries.
Posted on 9/29/14 at 10:22 am to jamboybarry
quote:So have Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps and a host of other federal benefits. Should we simply ignore changes in the costs of those benefits because of past decisions? Trends that significantly change the costs of programs deserve analysis, and measures to counter unfavorable changes. Or should we simply let all programs grow in cost unimpeded?
*Program has been around under multiple Republican administrations
Posted on 9/29/14 at 10:22 am to wickowick
Old News
This is a headline based on an April 2013 report on data through 2012. The problem has already been fixed and was partially fixed back in 2012.
The cell phones were added at the end of Bush's term with little regulations or controls. By 2011 as the numbers grew the problems were recognized and controls were put in. In the last quarter of 2012 they had dropped the number of subscribers in Maryland by 100,000. Looking at the raw data on fcc for Maryland it looks like the subscribers have fallen by a good deal more.
Why do you link to a summary article that sources another right wing site as an article that uses a report from over a year and a half ago? Do you just follow everything on these sites like a good little sheep?
This is a headline based on an April 2013 report on data through 2012. The problem has already been fixed and was partially fixed back in 2012.
The cell phones were added at the end of Bush's term with little regulations or controls. By 2011 as the numbers grew the problems were recognized and controls were put in. In the last quarter of 2012 they had dropped the number of subscribers in Maryland by 100,000. Looking at the raw data on fcc for Maryland it looks like the subscribers have fallen by a good deal more.
Why do you link to a summary article that sources another right wing site as an article that uses a report from over a year and a half ago? Do you just follow everything on these sites like a good little sheep?
This post was edited on 9/29/14 at 10:24 am
Posted on 9/29/14 at 10:27 am to mmcgrath
quote:
By 2011 as the numbers grew the problems were recognized and controls were put in.
quote:
The FCC says it has since instituted some reforms to put a damper on fraud. Until recently, applicants could self-certify their eligibility, and the FCC found millions of dollars of abuse when it finally checked.
But it only sent letters saying “don’t do it again, or you might be fined” to people who lied on their forms to obtain multiple phones or obtain them even though they had high incomes, it said at the hearing.
And it used the money recovered not to shrink program costs or refund fee-payers, but as free bonus funds that were reinvested to provide free Internet for the poor, with no authorization from Congress.
Posted on 9/29/14 at 10:43 am to UncleFestersLegs
quote:Again, this was done in 2012 to the 200 detected individuals. The FCC sued two companies who abused the system and dropped (no letter) 1.5 million subscriptions. The 200 letters appear to be for people who lied on the forms but never actually received service.
But it only sent letters saying “don’t do it again, or you might be fined” to people who lied on their forms to obtain multiple phones or obtain them even though they had high incomes, it said at the hearing.
Posted on 9/29/14 at 11:07 am to wickowick
The economy is the best it's been in 20 years, but we need more social benefits!!!
Don't take vital benefits away from the growing number poor people in this country even though the economy is adding 200 million jobs a month!!!!
Don't take vital benefits away from the growing number poor people in this country even though the economy is adding 200 million jobs a month!!!!
Posted on 9/29/14 at 11:26 am to wickowick
theres a tent set up every day across from BR General midcity on Florida signing people up. always people in line
Posted on 9/29/14 at 11:28 am to LSUMJ
No jackass, I'm not dense. I can see you're struggling with common sense so nevermind.
Posted on 9/29/14 at 11:37 am to LSUMJ
quote:
theres a tent set up every day across from BR General midcity on Florida signing people up. always people in line
I see that shite here, too.
Posted on 9/29/14 at 11:56 am to wickowick
I'll never understand why somebody NEEDS a cell phone with texting and data.
I understand the need for a landline / phone for emergency situations but not the data / texting.
I understand the need for a landline / phone for emergency situations but not the data / texting.
Posted on 9/29/14 at 11:58 am to gatorrocks
Just buying votes brah. Pure and simple.
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