Free Cellphones for Californians

California's poor and homeless citizens can now get free cellphones and mobile service as a statewide program has expanded.

The California Public Utilities Commission has approved two phone companies' proposals to offer free mobile service funded through the FCC's Lifeline program.

Wireless carriers can now offer free cellphones and monthly plans for 250 talk minutes and 250 text messages to all Californians who can prove that they make less than $14,702 a year.

The Lifeline program had previously only allowed free landline phone service to the needy.  It will now include cellphone service for the Golden State's homeless and low-income residents.

Sprint's Assurance Wireless and Nexus' Reach Out Wireless are providing cellphones and mobile service free of charge, the cost of which will be covered by the federal Lifeline program.

Californiality is receiving a lot of emails from seniors stating that the Lifeline program will not allow you to have both a landline account and a wireless account.  Apparently, you must choose between the two.

Do you qualify for free cellphone service in California?  You will find the applications for free Lifeline cell phone service at:

• Assurance Wireless
  www.assurancewireless.com
  (800) 395-2171
• Reach Out Wireless
  www.reachoutmobile.com
  (877) 777-1914