idot
"
The program expanded to include cell phones in 2008. That change has rapidly increased the cost to the federal government—$1.6 billion in 2011, up from $772 million in
2008. The number of Lifeline beneficiaries rose from 7.1 million to 12.5 million during the same period; cell phones account for roughly half of that 12.5 million."
ObamaPhones Profiting ObamaDonors
The "universal service fee" was sold as a bill of good to the American public for the purpose of bringing out of the way rural areas phone service. It looks like it was expanded in the Bush era (not sure if by GW himself of congress, with GW signing it obviously) to include subsidizing landline service for low income households.
Another perfect example of how once an entitlement gets put in place it grows out of control and becomes impossible to get rid of.