Merry Christmas: Free Cell Phone Service?

I visited the Department of Social Services in Hartford recently. Outside the entrance a man held a signpost advertising “Free Cell Phones.” He was announcing to passers by that if you were on “State assistance” or food stamps you may be eligible for a free cell phone and free monthly service. The program is called “Safe Link.” After my visit I did some research and apparently it’s true- if qualified, you can get a free phone and service including  up to 1000 text messages per month and 250 minutes- free. Unused minutes rollover.Here is Safe Link’s ad: “SafeLink is a Lifeline supported service, a government benefit program. Only eligible consumers may enroll in Lifeline. Lifeline service is non-transferable and limited to one per household. Documentation of income or program participation may be required for enrollment.”My first thought is that it must be paid for out of our tax  money, but that’s not so- well- not exactly. There is a special fee (Federal Universal Service Charge) on each paying customers’ cell phone bill that raises the funding for this. Basically it’s an extra tax on your phone service. I looked at my bill- sure enough -a $1.86 per month charge. Evidently it’s not an optional charge. This has been derisively called an “Obamaphone,” but in reality the program was made available during the Bush administration. But I’m not sure that before Obama there were hawkers outside DSS encouraging people to sign up.Since I am not eligible for food stamps or welfare, my cell phone service costs me over $60 per month! It would be cheaper without internet service.  If I had to, I could do without a cell phone (granted- after experiencing withdrawal symptoms). I hate to be Scrooge in this Christmas season, BUT:Do you think providing free cell phone service to those on welfare and food stamps is necessary? Have cell phones become a basic necessity on a par with food and shelter? Is texting a necessity? Should working folks and retired folks who pay for cell phone service be subsidizing cell phone service for those on food stamps and welfare? Or should those on assistance do without for now and aspire to doing better some day and paying for their own cell phone service?