The Affordable Connectivity Program Kept Them Online. What Now?

Comments

• RiikkaTheIcePrincess@pawb.social ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Oh hey, I heard the funding for that dried up. … Because I went looking for ways to not spend $50/mo for a working phone while I’m sleeping in somebody’s closet and have no income 🙃 Happen to know people who don’t even have the closet, but I’m sure they don’t need phone service either.

  [Maximum Sarcasm] I’m sure the money’s going somewhere more important, though.

  Hey, how many gig workers are barely scraping by and need programs like this or everybody’s Uber Eats orders are gonna uber eat dirt? Just a thought. Maybe taking a little care of the people at the bottom who prop up everything else is kinda asinine to not do. Grr, I say.

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  • wreckedcarzz@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Tello, 100 minutes talk/unl text/a gig of data, $6. Uses the tmo network. You can also port your number to Google voice for a $20 one-time fee and have unlimited voice/msgs, as long as you have wifi service. Uses the Voice app.

    Tello is my second number, few years now, had no issues. Used to have GV back when I had no money as a teenager, and would use my tablet as a phone. Worked surprisingly well.

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    • RiikkaTheIcePrincess@pawb.social ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Thanks for the ideas! May go for Tello soonish.

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  • Evilcoleslaw@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Like someone else said, Lifeline is still a thing. For mobile phone plans it isn’t quite as good as the old Lifeline + ACP combo where some were offering Unlimited minutes, text and data. Most are 500-1000 minutes, unlimited text, 4-5GB data.

    You have to be on SNAP, Medicaid, or some other federal programs OR meet the income requirements. If you sign up online now they kick you over to a National Verification site to check your eligibility. It’s pretty quick and painless. Then you’ll get a free (shitty) phone, or a SIM card on some that do BYOP.

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  • crispyflagstones@sh.itjust.works ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    The Lifeline program is still available. The way they explain it is confusing, but the “discount” covers the complete cost of service for most Lifeline providers, so it works out to free. You just need to be receiving any federal public assistance – Medicaid, food stamps, TANF, anything.

    www.fcc.gov/lifeline-consumers

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  • macgyver@federation.red ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    US mobile, $25/mo Verizon based MVNO

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    • RiikkaTheIcePrincess@pawb.social ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Thanks!

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• leanleft@lemmy.ml ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  The internet isn’t worth so much that people are going to be willing to pay $100 and get their shit stolen.

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• leanleft@lemmy.ml ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  I don’t know why we even pay unless having the 100% desired experience.

  • 100% privacy
  • 0 ads
  • full decentralization
  • lightning speeds
  • good experience

  Anything less is a scam. Live your best life possible.

  99% of the population doesn’t get this.
  They aren’t even aware that this is an option.
  They settle for mainstream social media jail.

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  • Cupcake1972@mander.xyz ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    lmao you think keeping up all of that infrastructure is free?

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• ArugulaZ@kbin.social ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Oh crap, I gotta contact my online company about this.

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  • SlopppyEngineer@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Send them hand written snail-mail and have them reply in kind will be their punishment.

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