Food Stamp Recipients Can Qualify for Cellphones and Service at Expense of Paying Consumers

Can government subsidies help Sprint Nextel (S) bounce back? Perhaps so, in a way you may not think.

Sprint, which reported fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday, seems to be having success with its Assurance Wireless brand, a prepaid offering. Sprint launched the government-subsidized Assurance program in early 2010. Sprint now markets the Assurance brand in 22 states and Washington, D.C.

Sprint expanded the Assurance brand to Pennsylvania today.

According to Assurance Wireless’ website, low-income families that qualify for food stamps, Medicaid, or some state-funded programs can apply to get wireless phone services from Sprint through the Universal Service Fund, a federal taxpayer funded program that for the most part subsidizes phone services in rural areas.

Low-income people that qualify can get a free cell phone, along with 250 minutes of voice service every month.

Sprint has won praise from some public interest groups. Investors aren’t sure about the impact of Assurance Wireless, though. It apparently helped Sprint sign up more prepaid customers in 2010, but Sprint’s average monthly revenue per subscriber, or ARPU took a hit as a result of more lower-spending customers being on the rolls.

for full article: http://blogs.investors.com/click/index.php/home/60-tech/2284-got-food-stamps-get-free-sprint-wireless-services

55000 Jobs Cut in a 2 Hour Period; Rush Limbaugh Challenges Obama on the Stimulus package.

     While the Senate voted to give Timothy Geithner the top job at the Treasury, 60-34, despite his failure to pay taxes for four years, 55000 employees lost their jobs in a two hour period. Those announcing job cuts today included Caterpiller, Sprint, Pfizer, and Home Depot. These follow Bank of America’s layoff announcement last week and the closing of Circuit City.

     Caterpiller’s layoffs follow this past summer’s credit problems where despite their perfect credit rating they could not get the renewal of the regular credit line.

      Rush Limbaugh, sitting in the ominous position of being a United States citizen who is under verbal attack from the President of the United States, has issued a positive challenge to President Barack Obama. Based on the 52-54% of the electorate vote that Obama received, Limbaugh has suggested that the Obama administration use that percentage of the $825 billion dollar price tag on their ideas, such as the renovations to the National Mall and the funds to stop the spread of STD’s. The balance of the package will be utilized in the manner taht the Republican’s are suggesting, primarily in tax cuts. Limbaugh says that he is positive that the Republicans will prevail.

      With all the money troubles at home, why are  we spending money in foreign lands to provide abortions!