TracFone has been approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to offer wireless Lifeline service through its TracFone program in Ohio. TracFone customers receive a free wireless handset, caller ID, voice mail and text messaging capability. Each month, the customer receives 250 free minutes of airtime. Because the allotment of minutes is minimal, TracFone offers additional minutes on a pre-paid basis for 20 cents per minute. Lifeline is a federal program designed to make local telephone service more affordable and accessible to residential consumers. Lifeline programs are funded by the federal Universal Service Fund, a program supported through charges on consumers’ monthly local and long-distance telephone bills. Income-eligible customers may qualify for wireless Lifeline provided they do not receive a Lifeline discount on their landline telephone account. Customers must be at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, for example, $34,575 for a family of four. Consumers may also qualify through their participation in one of several government aid programs, including: Section 8/Federal Public Housing Assistance; Medicaid; Food Stamps; Supplemental Security Income (SSI); Free National School Lunch Program (NSL); General Assistance/Disability Assistance; Home Energy Assistance (HEAP); Supplemental Security Disability Income (SSDI); Ohio Works First or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).