TracFone Wireless Launches SafeLink Wireless(R) to Aid Over One ...

Tag : Emergency Call

Economic opportunities for low-income households

A recent study ("Cell Phones Provide Significant EconomicGains for Low-Income American Households," April 2008)analyzed the impact of mobile phones on low-income households."In this day and age, the cell phone should be deemed animperative necessity for the millions of low-income families whoare far less likely to own them," said Nicholas P. Sullivan,the study's author and visiting scholar at Massachusetts Instituteof Technology. "Our study showed cell phones can significantlyboost the earning potential of these communities, and thisconnectivity vastly encourages their opportunities and remainscentral to their everyday survival," Sullivan stressed.

The study also revealed the cell phone is a critical component forpersonal safety, access to emergency services, and can potentiallyincrease a low-income family's economic productivity and earningpower. Other relevant survey findings included:

-- Cell phones provide a "security blanket" and are"extremely important" for "emergency use."

-- A cell phone is preferred to a landline phone for mobility andsecurity purposes, and is preferred to a landline phone foremergency use by 3-1 ratio.

-- 48% have used their phone to call or text during an emergencysituation.

-- 20% have received an emergency call or text on their cell phone.

-- 32% have purchased a cell phone for a relative to use inemergency situations.

-- 40% in blue-collar jobs say their cell phone has provided theopportunity to gain employment or make money.

Daily, millions of Americans depend on mobile telecommunicationsfor a wide range of basic activities including: calling emergencyservices, searching for employment, staying connected with lovedones, and much more. Yet, for people who cannot afford cell phones,being part of today's connected world and performing these crucialday-to-day needs is near impossible.

Typically, families living below the poverty line struggle to paytheir monthly bills, experience credit issues, and cannot affordtraditional home phone and wireless services. Using public payphones regularly pose problems and cell phone contracts often aredifficult to maintain due to costly usage charges over long-termagreements. As a result, regular communications is a major dilemmafor these families.

SAFELINK WIRELESS(R) SERVICE ELIGIBILITY OVERVIEW BY CITY

The following are opportunities per city specific to each state'slow-income population:


Program Eligibility

Lifeline program eligibility varies by state but generally familiesmay qualify for SafeLink Wireless service if their household incomeis not above 135 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines,or if they receive any of the following government assistanceprograms:

-- Medicaid

-- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

-- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

-- National School Lunch Program

-- Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)

-- Food Stamps

-- Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)

Families wanting to participate in the SafeLink Wireless servicewill need to provide proof of low-income qualification such as:

-- 2007 state or federal tax return

-- Three consecutive months of payroll statements, or paycheckstubs for 2008

-- A Social Security statement of benefits

-- A Veterans Administration statement of benefits

-- A retirement/pension statement of benefits

-- An Unemployment/Workmen's Compensation state of benefits

-- A federal notice letter of participation in General Assistance

-- A divorce decree, child support, or other official document thatproves your income

The SafeLink Wireless service will be provided to low-incomefamilies for up to one year. Participants may renew service andwill be required to re-submit eligibility documentation upon theiryear completion. If the participant no longer qualifies for thisfree service, they will be notified and will be able to keep thecell phone to continue enjoying the benefits as a regular TracFonecustomer. Unused minutes will never expire and will automaticallyrollover. When recipients surpass their allocated 68 airtimeminutes, they will be able to purchase prepaid SafeLink Wirelessairtime cards or TracFone airtime cards, including double minutecards. Existing TracFone customers qualifying for the SafeLinkWireless service may keep their current cell phone, and receivebonus minutes (one-time bonus only) for choosing to keep theircurrent cell phone.

To learn more about the SafeLink Wireless service, includingeligibility requirements, please call 1-800-977-3768, or visitwww.safelinkwireless.com.

ABOUT TRACFONE WIRELESS, INC.

TracFone Wireless, Inc. is America's number one prepaid wirelessservice in the U.S. with more than 10 million cell phonesubscribers. TracFone is a subsidiary of America Movil, S.A.B. deC.V. ("AMX") (BMV: AMX; NYSE: AMX; Nasdaq: AMOV; LATIBEX:XAMXL), the leading provider of wireless services in Latin Americawith more than 153 million cell phone subscribers. For moreinformation, please visit: www.tracfone.com.

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