How to Get a Cell Phone for Free - Lifeline Program
The Lifeline phone program helps make sure that everyone in the Unites States who needs access to a phone can have one. In some areas, there are few or no phone service options. The program helps fill that unmet need by subsidizing the cost of a phone for qualifying low-income households. How does it work? There are two parts to the program: a federal program and a state program. In the federal program, a certain amount of money is set aside every year for subsidizing phone service for qualifying households.
The states can then choose to participate in the program on a voluntary basis. If a state does, residents of that state can access a discounted phone plan from a network provider. Or, residents of participating states can activate their own discounted plan from a local provider. This blog post will show you how to get a free cell phone as a part of the federal and state programs.
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Get a Free Cell Phone with the Federal Lifeline Program
The FCC’s Lifeline program is a federally funded program that offers free or heavily subsidized phone service to eligible low-income consumers. The program is run in cooperation with the Universal Service Fund, a program funded through the FCC’s Universal Service Fund that uses some of the fees collected from phone customers to promote telecommunications access. The FCC’s Lifeline program currently has $1.5 billion available for funding. The majority of that fund is assigned to subsidizing landline phone service, but wireless service is also funded. Each state is responsible for how they allocate their Lifeline funding. The FCC publishes a list of all state’s program eligibility requirements and funding amounts. You can also find that information on the FCC’s Lifeline page. (1)
Get a Free Cell Phone with the State Lifeline Program
As of April 2018, every state has a state-level program that subsidizes phone service for qualifying low-income households. To be eligible, you must have a low-income status and reside in the service area of a state’s program. Each state’s program provides a different level of subsidy. To find out if your state’s program is available in your area and what the requirements are to qualify, consult your state’s list of program eligibility requirements. (2)
Get a Free Cell Phone with a Recycling Program If you no longer need your old phone, you can donate it to Goodwill for them to recycle for you. Goodwill accepts used electronics for free recycling and offers free shipping for households that meet income guidelines. You can also bring your old electronics to an authorized Motorola service center for free recycling.
Get a Free Cell Phone with an Activation Program
If you are interested in a subsidized cell phone plan but don’t want to enroll in a program like Lifeline, you can get a free phone from the local government. Many counties and cities give those away for free, or you can ask your local government if they are willing to activate a subsidized phone on your behalf. Activation is the process of putting your name on the plan and transferring your number to the plan. It is essentially the same as purchasing a plan on your own, but a company like Republic Wireless or Lifeline is paying for your phone. (3)
Conclusion
The Lifeline program helps provide phone service for people living in areas where there is a lack of access to phone service. If you are interested in the program, you can learn more about the eligibility requirements and current funding amounts by visiting the FCC’s Lifeline page. If you qualify, a free cell phone would be a great benefit to have in any setting where you need to make and receive calls, such as when you are in an emergency situation or out in the wild.
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