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I thought there was a federal program to provide phones to people on low incomes - the so-called Obamaphone (although it was actually Reagan).
by razakel 7y ago
I thought there was a federal program to provide phones to people on low incomes - the so-called Obamaphone (although it was actually Reagan).
- reaperducer 7y agoThere is, but there are significant barriers to entry. You sometimes see commercials for it on TV, and notice they all feature well-off 60-somethings enjoying their retirement savings and government benefits with their grandchildren. That's the target demographic for the free phone providers. The adults I deal with have an average of a fifth-grade education. They can't fill out forms. They don't know about government programs. There is sometimes a language barrier. And to them, a phone is a precious, expensive thing and they worry that if it breaks, they'll be cut off again and owe some giant telco money that they don't have. We have people on staff who try to help them with this sort of thing, but it's an uphill battle.