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Cheap internet is here: 22 companies to offer Lifeline Broadband

It’s taken a while. It’s been a long wait. But twenty-two companies have now petitioned the FCC to become Lifeline Broadband service providers and are currently in various stages of approval.

Some of them are well-known names from the Lifeline Assistance free government cell phone business, such as Access Wireless, Assist Wireless, Blue Jay Wireless, enTouch Wireless, Life Wireless, Safelink Wireless, TruConnect, and Q Link Wireless.

Others are companies that use new technologies to provide low-cost cell and internet service, but are not part of the Lifeline Assistance program, such as Karma and FreedomPop.

And some companies are new names to us, such as Applied Research Design, Flat Wireless, Free Mobile, Kajeet, KonaTel, and Red Pocket (to name a few).

Some of the competitors are offering the new Lifeline Broadband service nationally, some in most states, and others in a small number of states.

But the bottom line is that you now have choices — lots of choices — that will provide you with internet and cell/internet bundles at prices low-income Americans can afford.

Oh, happy day!

Here is a complete list of the new Lifeline Broadband service providers and the states in which they will be available. We’ll add to this list as more companies come on board. None of these companies have outlined their Lifeline packages yet, so we will also update those facts and figures as soon as they become available.

i-wireless (Access Wireless)

AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY, DC, PR (47 states plus DC, PR)

Applied Research Designs

IL

Assist Wireless

AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, WV, WI, PR (37 states plus PR)

Blue Jay Wireless

AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, ND, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY, DC, PR (48 states plus DC and PR)

Boomerang/enTouch

AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, ND, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY, DC, PR (49 states plus DC and PR)

Cintex Wireless

AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY (47 states plus DC, PR)

Easy Telephone Services

AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, MS, MO, OK, TX (9 states)

Airvoice (FeelSafe Wireless)

AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY, DC, PR, VI (48 states, plus DC, PR and VI)

Flat Wireless, LLC

AZ, NM (2 states)

Free Mobile Inc.

AL, CA, FL, IL, MS, NJ, NY, TX (8 states)

STS Media (FreedomPop)

AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY, DC (48 states plus DC)

Kajeet

Nationwide

Karma Mobility

AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, ND, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY, DC, PR, VI (47 states plus DC, PR and VI)

KonaTel, Inc.

AZ, CA, FL, GA, IL, MD, MA ,MI, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TX (15 states)

Telrite (Life Wireless)

Nationwide

Plains Internet, LLC

TX (one state)

Q Link

Nationwide

Red Pocket

CA, FL, NY, PA (4 states)

SelecTel (SelecTel Wireless)

CA, IA, KY, OH, MO, NE, TX (7 states)

Spot On Networks, LLC

NY (one state)

Tracfone (Safelink Wireless)

Nationwide

TruConnect

AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY, DC, PR, VI (47 states plus DC, PR and VI)

In addition, one company Ztar Mobile, originally applied to become a Lifeline Broadband service provider, but has since withdrawn its application.

One thing to keep in mind

If you’re a Lifeline Assistance free government cell phone customer, please do not get your hopes up that Lifeline Broadband will be free. We expect most of the above companies to simply offer discounts on Lifeline Broadband and bundles.

But keep your fingers crossed. Maybe we’ll all be pleasantly surprised.

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Comments

  1. Thank You for the information
    I live in Anchorage, Alaska 99504
    Are there internet plans for my area?

    Reply

  2. I receive food stamps and make a low part time income and would like to know how to apply. I live in Medford, Oregon 97501.

    Thank you,

    Renee Betterton

    Reply

  4. I have contacted these companies where the so called cheap internet is offered. I live in Sikeston, Missouri and all of them told me the same thing Spectrum and AT&T put all the cables in and you can only get internet service through them. and no one else. So the information you are giving out is not accurate. And the only low cost internet AT&T offers is for people who receive food stamps. And Spectrum does not offer any low cost internet service. There is no low cost internet service for seniors out there. Seniors don’t have school age children in the home most of the tome. And if a person is 65 they receive social security not SSI.so they are also disqualified. Please check your facts before you publish stuff in the future.call these companies andget the truth

    Reply

    • How about if you do a little more research, Saphrey, before you shoot your freakin’ mouth off. Your comment is wrong about so many things that we’re not going to waste our time responding.

      Reply

  5. I’m looking foe internet foe seniors.I have a monthly social lsecurity check. Internet is so expensive here in Missouri. So I need to find one cheap .

    Reply

    • Lifeline Assistance is the “free government cell phone” program. It is a very close brother (sister?) of the Lifeline Broadband plan. Unfortunately, after initially approving the Lifeline Broadband program, the FCC has now put it on hold.

      Reply

  9. I was turned down by centurylink for their low income basics program only because I have had their service for 3 years…I qualified due to low income…what can I do to help get this changed…this is rediculous…I’ve struggled for 3 years to pay the hundreds I have gave that company and they turned me down because I already have the service and am paying $40 a month???????

    Reply

    • I ran into this B.S. with CenturyLink as well, several years back. I called and they claimed that as a current customer, I didn’t qualify for the reduced rate even though I met the other qualifications, and that it was programmed into the system and they couldn’t override it. A supervisor claimed the same thing.

      I told them, “Well, then, you are going to lose a long-time customer. Cancel my internet service today. I will be looking at other options and may never come back…or I may return in 90 days to get the low income rate, per your rules.” They said, “You can’t do that!” I said, “Hey, YOU wrote the rules, I’m just playing the game according to YOUR rules.” They said, “It can’t be done.” I said, “I guess we’ll find out in 90 days, won’t we?”

      On the 91st day, I called and just asked to start Low Income internet Service. They entered my info into the system and said, “It’ll be on in xx hours.” I kept the service for the next five years. When they showed that I was in Month 59 of 60 and that the price would jump to their regular unaffordable price after Month 60, I cancelled just in time. I was moving anyway.

      Now I live about 15 miles away, my building is served by CenturyLink as well, and I will be attempting to find out if the system is programmed to catch people who have already used up their five year max.

      P.S. The documents on the website that I see in the Seattle area are messed up. They show links to two application forms that are supposed to be for different groups of states, but the forms don’t list the states and are nearly identical. They are also missing a page. And they appear to only give lease or buy options for the modem, but since I still have their modem, I don’t want to pay for a new one. So, we’ll see what happens.

      Reply

      • Interesting story, Ms Pennypincher. Please let us know what happens. We’d be interested in hearing and so would our readers.

        Reply

  11. I was talking about the Lifeline service~ if it is already implemented for phones how much harder could it be for internet access??? I believe it is ALL ABOUT THE MONEY AIN’T A DAMN THING FUNNY!!!

    Reply

  12. This service would be GREAT!!! If it ever gets off the ground. Why is there always so much hoopla when trying to help the poverty stricken portions of our country. Is it because the bottom line is how can they get paid to do the right thing. Maybe if more people had internet access they would be climbing out of poverty and contributing to the economy of the world and our future generations

    Reply

  13. i am trying to find low cost internet only for my granddaughter who is a single parent with one small daughter and another baby due next month – because her tv is a smart tv her mom was paying for internet so she could view youtube but now her mom no longer has extra income for that so i thot if i could help – her mom was paying $50 for charter internet only and feel that is really high especially for low-income people – she lives in victorville, california so dont know what is available there for her – i have frontier fios in apple valley which is nearby but she said there is no fios in her area – all she wants is internet – no tv – so she can go online with computer and use youtube

    Reply