TracFone Wireless, a company that offers wireless telephone service, has joined the ranks of traditional land-line telephone companies that offer Lifeline service to low-income residents.

The company has begun marketing its service in the Miami Valley. In May, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio granted permission for TracFone to become the first wireless telephone service provider in Ohio operating in the Lifeline program, which provides a discounted service rate for eligible low-income consumers. Land-line telephone companies, including AT&T and Verizon, have offered Lifeline service for years.

The Federal Communications Commission oversees the Lifeline program, which was created 25 years ago to ensure that affordable, landline telephone access was available to rural and poor communities.

At least 1.3 million low-income households in Ohio could qualify for a new Lifeline program, called SafeLink Wireless, that provides a free cell phone and 68 minutes of free talk-time for emergencies for one year, TracFone said. Ohio is one of 17 states participating in the program.

Talk-time that isn’t used would roll over to the next month, according to the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, a state agency that represents residential customers of Ohio utilities.

If a customer wishes to use additional minutes beyond the monthly allotment, minutes can be added through prepaid SafeLink or TracFone airtime cards that can be bought at local retailers.

The Ohio Consumers’ Counsel urges residents to learn about the Lifeline program and its costs before committing to any service provider, agency spokesman Ryan Lippe said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.