1. Keeping Connected

The importance of free phones goes beyond mere communication. The value of a free phone with service for low-income families is the difference between having a job or being unemployed. The vast majority of employers expect you to have a phone for interviews and job placement, so mobility is necessary for economic mobility. At the same time as demand has risen, so too has the importance of digital connectivity to access healthcare services, for scheduling appointments and accessing telehealth consultations.

2. Access to Education

Access to education is similarly reliant on the internet. Homework gets to be hard, you can read online. When students lack consistent connectivity, their homework load becomes onerous and they are unable to do as much or engage with digital resources or virtual learning environments. Free phone and data services help to level the playing field, so that disadvantage in economic circumstances does not become educational disadvantage.

3. Call for Emergency Help

The urgency of such programs is further underlined by emergency situations. The ability to call for help, receive emergency alerts or reach family members during emergencies can literally save lives. The SAFE Connections Act also takes the additional step of ensuring that survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, who often need communications to ensure their safety, are protected.

4. Social Inclusion

These efforts also promote social inclusion through connection with family, community resources and civic engagement. They are speaking to the loneliness that all too often stands on the threshold of poverty and making sure low-income Americans do not become digitally invisible. The success of free phones shows that connecting people to the internet can be done when government, service providers and communities cooperate. While technology continues to transform, preserving and expanding these programs should be essential to helping shape a more equitable and connected America.