Since when did the government give free smartphones?

Including free data? All this time I have been using WiFi to use internet on my phone. When did this all happen? I just found out now. 

2021-03-21T04:13:56Z

I also never had any data

Anonymous2021-03-27T02:10:28Z

Sometime around 2000 to 2008, give or take. My state provides cars and pays for the insurance, although we have public transportation--subways, trains, and busses. 

Vinegar Taster2021-03-24T23:25:05Z

They do give out free phones . But the data is very limited .
You have to be low income though . Less than $25,000 a year .
You do have unlimited voice and text .

Anonymous2021-03-22T01:22:37Z

The government doesn't give out phones, but the Lifeline program does offer subsidies to help recipients of government aid get phone service at a discount. The program was started in 1985 (!) and was budgeted to cost $2.385 billion for 2020. Data appears to have been added to the plan in 2016, and allowances for mobile customers are 1000 minutes and 3GB.

?2021-03-21T22:14:33Z

At least 10 years ago, before it was a flip phone. 

Anonymous2021-03-21T04:19:38Z

The program started in GWB’s second term. I don’t know when they started giving out data as I’m sure the first phones were just basic phones that could only make phone calls.

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