Post by robeiae on Jul 2, 2017 16:01:47 GMT -5
Who remembers those late night commercials with some jackwagon in a dollar bill suite hawking a phonebook-sized book that supposedly was filled with all sorts of ways to get free money from the government? Get paid for writing a book! Get paid for not growing corn! Get paid for watching TV! And so on..
Well, there was this program started under Reagan--called Lifeline--intended to help people in poverty pay for phone service. As technology changed, so did the program. Under direction of the always helpful FCC, it expanded this aid to include cell phones and broadband service.
Here it is: www.fcc.gov/general/lifeline-program-low-income-consumers
Anyway, after the above change, some thoughtful entrepreneurs at Tracphone and other carriers went balls to the wall signing up people for "free phones." These became known as "Obamaphones," though that seems unfair to me, since I don't think Obama had anything to do with this program. It's just that the abuses apparently piled up while he was President, not that anyone was really paying attention.
Anyway, now there'e been an audit: www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/06/29/fccs-lifeline-program-has-massive-fraud/439161001/
But never fear, the FCC guys are on the job. Move along, nothing to see here:
IMPERFECTIONS?!?! Billions are going out through this program, into the hands of companies who have figured out how to game the system.
See here: money.cnn.com/2012/10/26/technology/mobile/tracfone-free-phones/index.html
And here: www.nationalreview.com/article/354867/me-and-my-obamaphones-jillian-kay-melchior
Those are old articles. This audit took three years, but the "imperfections" it uncovered have been known for quite some time. In that regard, Obama--and his GOP-controlled Congress--do deserve some blame. And many of the latter group are still in office. So what's the hold up?
Imo, it's simple: it's easier to ignore corruption and graft than do something about it.
Well, there was this program started under Reagan--called Lifeline--intended to help people in poverty pay for phone service. As technology changed, so did the program. Under direction of the always helpful FCC, it expanded this aid to include cell phones and broadband service.
Here it is: www.fcc.gov/general/lifeline-program-low-income-consumers
Anyway, after the above change, some thoughtful entrepreneurs at Tracphone and other carriers went balls to the wall signing up people for "free phones." These became known as "Obamaphones," though that seems unfair to me, since I don't think Obama had anything to do with this program. It's just that the abuses apparently piled up while he was President, not that anyone was really paying attention.
Anyway, now there'e been an audit: www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/06/29/fccs-lifeline-program-has-massive-fraud/439161001/
The agency's three-year audit of the Lifeline program, begun in June 2014 to May 2017, found that more than one-third (36%) of Lifeline customers could not be confirmed as actually eligible for the program. The GAO also found that $1.2 million annually went to fictitious identities or recipients who were dead.
In undercover tests, the GAO found that phone companies approved Lifeline applicants with false personal information nearly two-thirds of the time (63%)...
According to the GAO's new report, Lifeline households numbered 12.3 million during the fourth quarter of 2016, with disbursements of about $1.5 billion...
The FCC has also begun the process to move the $9 billion in Lifeline funds — consumers contribute to this via the Universal Service Fund fees on their phone bills — to the U.S. Treasury. Currently, the Lifeline funds are kept in a private bank account and the FCC has no control over the funds.
In undercover tests, the GAO found that phone companies approved Lifeline applicants with false personal information nearly two-thirds of the time (63%)...
According to the GAO's new report, Lifeline households numbered 12.3 million during the fourth quarter of 2016, with disbursements of about $1.5 billion...
The FCC has also begun the process to move the $9 billion in Lifeline funds — consumers contribute to this via the Universal Service Fund fees on their phone bills — to the U.S. Treasury. Currently, the Lifeline funds are kept in a private bank account and the FCC has no control over the funds.
No one is arguing that the program be scrapped, and such a move, "would be catastrophic for those most in need," said FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, a Democrat, in a statement. "The answer is not denying access to those who cannot afford connectivity and access to critical services like 911, the next steps should include rolling up our sleeves and addressing any imperfections that remain."
See here: money.cnn.com/2012/10/26/technology/mobile/tracfone-free-phones/index.html
And here: www.nationalreview.com/article/354867/me-and-my-obamaphones-jillian-kay-melchior
Those are old articles. This audit took three years, but the "imperfections" it uncovered have been known for quite some time. In that regard, Obama--and his GOP-controlled Congress--do deserve some blame. And many of the latter group are still in office. So what's the hold up?
Imo, it's simple: it's easier to ignore corruption and graft than do something about it.
