FREE (or almost Free)
Wireless
There are
several methods to get Free,
or almost Free, cellular
service. One of them could work for you.
There is
FREE wireless available!
First, check out TEXTNOW .
They give
you a phone number, voice mail and FREE calls and Texts! They use
VoIP and their Free plans ocassionally shows ads on your screen.
You do need to be
within range of Wi-Fi but you get access to all phone numbers
and
affordable international calling.
You Might
Qualify for Subsidized
Cellular:
Most
carriers offer a government-subsidized
"Lifeline" or "Link-Up" service at a significantly reduced cost if you
can qualify based on your income.
Lifeline support lowers the cost of basic, monthly local telephone
service and can be Free or just a few dollars per month. An eligible
customer may receive the Lifeline discount on either a wireline or
wireless connection, but the discount is available for only one account
per household. Lifeline discounts do not apply to taxes or surcharges,
and don't relieve the account holder from paying the monthly bill.
Details on how to
sign up are below.
Qualifications
to receive Lifeline discounts vary by state. The qualifying programs
are either determined by each state's Public Utility Commission or the
federal Lifeline/Link-Up program. Some states and U.S. territories do
not provide state-funded discounts. If available, an individual may be
eligible if he or she participates in one of the following programs:
- Federal
Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) or Section 8
- Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP - formerly Food
Stamps)
- Low
Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Medicaid
- National
School Lunch Program
- Supplemental
Security Income (SSI)
- Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Old
Age Pension (OAP)
- Aid
to the Blind (AB)
- Aid
to the Needy (AND)
- Aid
to Children
- Residents
of Tribal Territories*
- If
your household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty
Guidelines, you may qualify for Lifeline based on income.
You will need to provide current documentation that shows
your household income. Contact your chosen carrier for details.
*To
receive Lifeline discounts in Tribal territories, you must reside on
land that meets the Bureau of Indian Affairs definition of a
reservation, specifically any federally recognized Native American
tribe's reservation within an eligible carrier's coverage area, based
on the zip code of your home address. |
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What Does LifeLine
Cost?
Lifeline
services range from Free to $20 per month. Don't confuse
Lifeline plans with "Senior" plans that are offered by some companies.
Lifeline (also called "LifeLink") is supported by government subsidies.
Individual states have different subsidies and some states
have
none.
To
Sign Up For LifeLine Service:
If you qualify, you can contact wired and wireless telephone companies
and ask about "Lifeline" service. You can shop among the programs to
see which one will give you the best offer. These programs are not
limited to your local telephone company, you can call your local
wireless carrier.
Or
Take the Easy Way:
There are companies that provide service specifically to
Lifeline
customers across the nation such as Q
Link Wireless and SafeLink.
Not all carriers provide Lifeline service and not necessarily
in their entire coverage areas. Also, not
all states support
subsidized wireless service and not necessarily at the same subsidy
amounts.
Some wireless carriers do not significantly discount LifeLine plans so
shop carefully.
LifeLine
May Have a Limited
Life:
Watch our Wireless Noise News
Page as the LifeLine program goes through some significant changes.
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FREE,
Emergency-Only Cellular!
Almost
any digital cellular phone can call 911, sometimes even if the phone
screen shows "No Service." This means even discarded or deactivated
digital wireless phones can be set aside in a glove compartment or
night stand and used to summon help. Don't expect a cellular company to
give you one of these "free" phones. Instead, ask a friend or relative
if they'll give you one of their old phones. You can call the
associated carrier and ask if that particular phone model will work.
Some may be missing a "SIM" which can be found on eBay or from some
cellular stores. We include this option because it's possible, but we'd
rather spend a few dollars for
something more reliable.
Here are some important considerations for using an "old" cellular
phone for this kind of emergency-only use:
- The
Call Must Truly be an Emergency
involving
life and death situations, fires, injuries or other dangers to people
or property. They cannot be used to request a tow truck, gas refill or
directions.
- You Must be Within Cellular
Coverage
The
phone must use a technology that is currently supported by US carriers:
GSM or CDMA. It cannot be from a foreign country or use analog or TDMA
(old Cingular and AT&T phones) technology.
- Never Call 911 to "Test" the
Phone
Call your local police or fire administrative number from a different
phone and ask for their assistance.
- Check the
Phone's Battery
Look at the indicator on a regular basis or keep a charger handy.
- If You Make an Emergency Call
Give the dispatcher complete information including where you are and
what is needed. Once you hang up they cannot call you back!
If you have a fairly new phone they may be able to
determine your general location, but not your specific address.
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Very
Low-Cost
Prepaid Cellular:
There
are
real Prepaid wireless plans than cost about $3 a month and
maybe
less! Don't expect to get a lot for a buck.
wbd_bottom.htm"
- One
of the best low-cost plans is T-Mobile Prepaid.
Their $3 per month plan is very convenient. You get
30 minutes
of Calls or Texts
and, if you need them, additional Calls & Texts at .10 each.
You can sign up for Auto-pay and you can use, or not use your
phone, and you'll know you'll only pay $36 a year. And
T-Mobile coverage is much improved.
- For about
$2.50 a month you can get Voice, Text, 411,
and Data in small quantities using the largest
wireless network in the US, with Page Plus Cellular.
- For a little more, plans with Talk, Text and
Data can be as cheap as $10
per month. Really!
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