20101012Comment (LULAC).pdf

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League of United Latin American CitizerH_\~1tk~?
October 7, 2010
Ms. Jean Jewell
Secretar
Idaho Public Utilties Commission
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, il 83720-0074
RE: Case No. TFW-T-09-0l -Application of TracFone Wireless, Inc., For Eligible
Telecommunications Carer Designation
To Whom It May Concern:
It has come to our attention that Iowa is considering whether to extend the state's Lifeline
program to include wireless telecommunications service, and that a petition from TracFone
Wireless is under review.
The Leage of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)i believes TracFone's would go far to
help the 18 percent of Hispanic adults that are curently living in povert in Idaho obtan phone
service.2 It is importnt for all low-income Americans to have the same access to wireless and
competitive services as do other consumers and LULAC strongly supports effort to improve
access. For your review, we have attched a copy of our filing in support ofTracFone's ETC
proposal before the Federal Communications Commission.
Than you,
Respectfully submitted,
73~W~
Brent Wilkes, National Executive Director
League of United Latin American Citizens
1 LULAC is the largest and oldest Hispanic Organization in the United States. LULAC advances the
economic condition, educational attinment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic
Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.
The organization involves and serves all Hispanic nationality groups.
2 Pew Hispanic Center, Demographic Profile of Hispanics in Idaho, 2008,
http://pewhispanic.org/states/?stateid=1 D (2008)
2000 L Street, NW, Suite 610 . Washington, DC 20036 . [phone] . FAX [phone] · ww.LULC.org
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League of United Latin American Citiz~'IO PUL",¡Ç "o.?_.
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Friday, April 24, 2009
Marlene H. Dortch
Office of the Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554
RE: CC Docket 96-45 - Request ofTracfone Wireless, Inc. to be designated as an
Eligible Telecommunications Carier
Dear Commissioner:
I am writing to support the application ofTracFone Wireless, Inc. for the prompt
designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) so that it may
offer Lifeline and Link-Up service to low-income consumers, including the
milions of Latino and Hispanic consumers living below the povert line in states
where TracFone's application is pending.
U.S. Census Bureau numbers show nearly 22 percent of Hispanics live below the
povert line. Even so, Hispanic households spend $8 bilion a year on telephone
services, about $833 per phone user, according to the Hispanic Association on
Corporate Responsibility and the FCC. Telecommunications services are
extremely important to members of our community - for keeping in touch with
family, finding and keeping job opportnities and for taking care of health care
and emergency needs. These are just of few of the many reasons LULAC has
been a supporter and advocate for the Universal Service Fund and the Lifeline
and Link Up program.
We also recognize the role that prepaid cell phones play for Latinos. Industr
reports show that Hispanics are about twice as likely to buy pre-paid wireless
phones as are white Americans (14 percent versus 8 percent), according a 2002
survey from the CPR Group. We have reviewed the TracFone Lifeline program,
called SafeLink, which offers prepaid cell phones for free to consumers who
qualify under the Lifeline program. Currently, TracFone is offering SafeLink in
Florida, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Michigan, and in parts of New York,
Pennsylvania and Virginia. We support their efforts to provide the program in
Alaska, California, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey,
Ohio, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.
SafeLink Wireless could help milions of Latinos obtain prepaid phone service--
at no cost to the states. SafeLink customers receive an allotted number of free
airtime minutes per month, plus benefits that are importnt to our community,
including:
2000 L Street, NW, Suite 610 · Washingon, DC 20036 . [phone] . FAX [phone] · ww.LULC.org
League of United Latin American Citizen
. Callng to more than 60 countries, with no additional charges including Mexico,
Spain and many South American countries
. No credit checks and no early termination penalties or late payment fees
. 911 calls free of charge and without deducting minutes from the monthly
allotment
. Unused minutes do not expire at the end of the month, and are "caried over" to
the following month
Customers could take advantage of the same features that other consumers currently
enjoy with cell phones, such as call waiting and caller ID, plus features currently not
offered with land line providers under their Lifeline programs, such as voice mail and
nationwide long distance.
LULAC applauds the Safelink offering and the right of consumers to obtain affordable
wireless phone service. We support the TracFone petition and encourage a swift roll out
of the SafeLink program. Thank you.
Sincerely,~/t~
Rosa Rosales
LULAC National President
2000 L Street, NW, Suite 610 · Washingon, DC 20036 . [phone] · FAX [phone] · ww.LULC.org