The Glade 4.0

So I got one of those "current resident" things in the mail yesterday that states that if you are receiving govt assistance of any kind (section 8, food stamps, etc) that you are probably eligible for a free cell phone.
It says that "Reach Out Wireless service is a US government supported program for income eligible households."
Sooooo...you can sit on your *** and the government will pay your rent, your utilities, your food, and now your dang cell phone?? What's next?? A government subsidized vehicle?
Whose bright idea was it to give out free cell phones?

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"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Jesus of Nazareth

sounds like a scam, but who knows.

Here's the link: SafeLink Wireless

So if the government is not paying for it....how are they funding this?

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"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Jesus of Nazareth

Yeah, I read that part, but it doesn't make sense. Why are they giving out phones for free? Large corporations tend not to be altruistic with their money unless it's to a foreign country or in a time of crisis and generates lots of publicity/free advertising.

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"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Jesus of Nazareth

Same reason that drug companies offer subsidy programs for their newer, still hella-expensive drugs...it's good PR that makes them look magnanimous and fluffy cuddly.

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Women are from Hoboken, men are from Trenton. ~ Jimmy Kimmel

They might also be getting some kind of tax break or write-off for doing so.

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"Aaaah! Emotions are weird!" - Amdee
"... Mirrorshades prevent the forces of normalcy from realizing that one is crazed and possibly dangerous. They are the symbol of the sun-staring visionary, the biker, the rocker, the policeman, and similar outlaws." - Bruce Sterling, preface to Mirrorshades

They advertise these on the radio here all the time and they always state it is a government-subsidized program. Perhaps they get a crazy tax-break or fee-reduction from the FCC?

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It's also a way to add a lot more people to their service and hopefully when they have more money, people will not only stay but upgrade their plans.

Here's a NY Times article that contradicts the link a little by the way. So many things upset me in that article, such as the fact that he's on government assistance, yet is paying $159 for cable, internet, and TV.