The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Free cell phones for needy residents

TracFone Wireless using federal subsidy for Butler, Warren households.

Badin students shave their heads to support freshman
Updated 3 min. ago
Residents asked to line for soldier’s funeral procession
New 6 min. ago
Lakota student designs Ohio Volley for the Cure shirts
Updated 6 min. ago
Events  to honor  9/11 losses, memories
New 7 min. ago
Thirtysomething heart patient hopes his story helps others
New 7 min. ago
> More headlines

E-mail this page

By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer Updated 10:18 AM Friday, August 21, 2009

A wireless company has tapped into a federal program to offer free cell phones and service to thousands of low-income residents across Butler and Warren counties.

TracFone Wireless Inc., a prepaid cell phone company, has been approved to launch its SafeLink Wireless plan, which through the federal Lifeline program will provide eligible low-income households a free cell phone and 68 minutes of free air time monthly for one year. The cell phone offers features such as voicemail, texting and call waiting, according to TracFone.

The company uses a subsidy from the Low Income Program of the Universal Service Fund for the monthly air time, and provides the phone — a Motorola 175 — at its own cost, said Jose Fuentes, director of government relations for TracFone.

According to U.S. Census data, about 28,048 households in Butler County and 10,976 in Warren County could qualify for the program.

Fuentes said cell phones are often taken for granted as a common household resource. While the air time can be used however clients want, he said the phones will serve as a vital tool in everyday issues, like car trouble, communication between family and contact with employers.

“It’s another sure way an employer can contact you and especially in the current economic situation and especially in Ohio itself, the state has been hit hard by the economic downturn,” Fuentes said. “A missed call could be a missed job opportunity.”

Some qualifications for SafeLink/Lifeline include participation in government assistance programs such as Section 8 housing, Medicaid, food stamps, free National School Lunch program, or if total household income is at or under 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

To learn more, call (800) 723-3546 or visit safelink.com.

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

free phone
for me

clayton mushero
9:41 AM, 4/24/2010

REPORT ABUSE

Its easy to say that a cell phone is not a necessity, but how many of us can go a week without using them Imagine these scenarios. YOu could be waiting for a job offer to improve your financial status, but might never receive it because you have no phone. You may be stranded on the highway because your car broke down in a downpour, and you have no way of communicating to others that you need assistance. This plan is an emergency phone. That is something we all need!

My2Cents
3:47 AM, 8/30/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Anibel- maybe you shouldn't have had 2 kids if you can't even afford a cell phone...before cell phones people survived without them just fine.

Cheryl- have you ever heard of a cordless phone? My cordless phone fits in my pocket.

Lazy people
1:16 AM, 8/22/2009

REPORT ABUSE

I THINK THIS WILL HELP PEOPLE THAT ARE DISABLED & LOW INCOME. THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T GET TO THERE PHONE IN TIME IF THEY FALL OR GET HURT, BUT THEY CAN PUT A CELL PHONE IN THERE POCKET OR SOMEWHERE EASE TO GET.AND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAD, AT LEAST YOU ARE ABLE TO WORK. PEOPLE ON LOW INCOME HAVE IT VERY BAD. I DON'T EVEN HAVE A CAR & COULDN'T PAY FOR IT IF I DID. SO BE GREATFUL YOU HAVE YOUR HEALTH TO WORK. I LOVED MY JOB & MISS WORKING. GOD BLESS & HELP US ALL BE GREATFUL.

CHERYL
10:04 PM, 8/21/2009

REPORT ABUSE

I disagree with many of the comments above. How can you think that in today's day in age we don't need cell phones! I am a single mother working 2 jobs to provide for my children. I do not have money to pay for a pricey cell phone. However, a cell phone is necessary in my life because I need to be easily accessible to my children and their babysitter if anything were to happen when I am out of the house. Tracfone is allowing me the peace of mind that I desperately need.

Anibel
9:44 PM, 8/21/2009

REPORT ABUSE

There are 17 additional comments

SHOW ALL

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.