Community encouraged to speak on wireless Lifeline phone service

By Cynthia Mendoza

Anew generation will beFor many low-incomeCalifornia customers,

the Lifeline program makes itpossible for them to have a phonein their home. Lifeline is a gov-ernment benefit program thatprovides discounts on monthlytelephone service for eligiblelow-income consumers to helpensure they have the opportuni-ties and security that home tele-phone service provides. With the emergence and preva-lence of wireless phone in recentyears however, the CaliforniaPublic Utilities Commission isconsidering a state funded Life-line program but for cell phoneservice for people who may nototherwise be able to afford it.Right now there is a federal Life-line program for wireless servicebut no state program. Later this spring or summer,perhaps in May or June (noknown confirmed date at thistime), the California Public Util-

ities Commission will be holdinga public hearing on the possibil-ity of a state funded wirelessLifeline program. Some of the is-sues to be discussed may includewhat calling and service featuressuch a program should include. Grassroots organizations thatserve many of the residents thatwould benefit from this programare busy mobilizing and prepar-ing for the hearing by letting thepeople they serve know about itand preparing them to speak be-fore the commission about fea-tures, rates and the reasons whysuch a program would be benefi-cial to them. “We urge the community tocome out and speak,” said SallyAlvarado-Hesseltine, executivedirector for Lighthouse LearningResource Center, that amongother programs provided to low-income families, seniors, work-ing people who have lost homesand single parent homes, alsoprovides telecommunications ad-vocacy. According to Alvarado-Hessel-tine, Lighthouse alone, servesabout 50,000 people annually,

with needs as small as a one-timereferral to a service to ongoingadvocacy and more. About 90%of the people served by Light-house already have Lifeline forhome phone service. They are just one organizationof many others, including faithbased and school programs, whoare sharing the information withthe people they serve and prepar-ing them to make their voiceheard before the commission,which according to Alvarado,will be presided over by Com-missioner Catherine J.K. San-doval.On Friday, March 8, Light-house, along with CongregationsOrganized in Prophetic Engage-ment (COPE), Utility ReformNetwork (TURN), Policy Voiceand The Center For Media Justicehosted a free community work-shop training for community or-ganization leaders on how toaddress the commission and otherbasic media training insights andother tips on speaking to themedia so that the right message isconveyed to the public and sothat their voice is heard by the

commission. “This program would givemany of our families another toolto stay connected to our schoolsand also allow us as a district tostay in touch with parents,” saidMars Serna, Family InvolvementManager for the San BernardinoCity Unified School District, whoattended the training, on howLifeline would benefit the manyfamilies the district serves.“Sometimes it can be difficult toreach parents in an emergency. Itwould also provide an educa-tional tool for families to do re-search and information that willin turn assist children succeed inschool.” If you are an agency who wouldlike to get involved or for moregeneral information, email SallyAlvarado at: lighthouselearn-ingrc@gmail.com or call Light-house Learning Resource Centerat (909) 477-2781 ext. 2386.

PHOTOS/CYNTHIA MENDOZA

ON FRIDAY, MARCH 8, REPRESENTATIVES FROM TURN, COPE, AND LIGHTHOUSE LEARNING RESOURCE CENTER PROVIDED A FREE TRAINING TO COMMUNITY OR-GANIZATIONS IN PREPARATION FOR SPEAKING TO MEDIA AND ADDRESSING THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION LATER THIS SPRING OR SUMMER ON THEPOSSIBILITY OF HAVING LIFELINE WIRELESS PHONE SERVICE. FROM LEFT: MINISTER TATUM AND ABIGAIL MEDINA FROM COPE, ANA MONTES AND MARK TONEYFROM TURN, SALLY ALVARADO-HESSELTINE FROM LIGHTHOUSE LEARNING RESOURCE CENTER, SEVEN RENDEROS AND DIANA PEI WY FROM THE CENTER FORMEDIA JUSTICE AND LATANYA CLARK FROM COPE.

PHOTOS/CYNTHIA MENDOZA

THIS SMALL GROUP REVIEWS A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE REGARDING LIFELINE PHONE SERVICE AS PART OF A TRAINING ONHOW TO SPEAK TO THE MEDIA AND IN PREPARATION FOR GOING BEFORE THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.FROM MIDDLE, COUNTERCLOCKWISE, FANNY NIETO FROM ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY/SHANDIN HILLS MIDDLE SCHOOL,MARS SERNA, SAN BERNARDINO CITY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, MYRNA FERNANDEZ, ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY PTA,DANIEL CHAVEZ AND MARCELA ROMERO FROM ELAC OF WARM SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

Inland Empire Community Newspapers • March 14, 2013 • Page A15

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