Can You Get Your Cellular Phone Service Cheaper? - Brief Article

Accent on Living, Spring, 2000

It depends on where you live. Cellular phone companies provide different plans and deals in different areas. You will have to call to determine what best serves you in your area.

In the last issue (Winter, page 80), Teresa Campbell wrote about her search for the best and cheapest cell phone service in her area. Teresa lives in San Francisco and learned Cellular One offered a special discounted rate for disabled people. The program in her area is ENABLE-Link Plan. She pays $10 instead of $25 for service. She also learned of services that Pacific Bell, her local telephone provider offered. They provide phones for hearing impaired, overlays or speed calling for visually impaired customers, speech amplifier for people with voice problems, a speaker phone for someone who cannot lift a phone, etc.

However, Teresa had to call several cellular carriers in her area to find the best deal. She also told us that she had to have a neurologist sign a form stating that she was disabled to get a discounted rate.

The bottom line is that you will have to call the different cellular phone companies in your area to determine what is the best deal for you.

Cellular One is a franchise and different programs and pricing are offered in various locations. So, yes, Cellular One does offer a discounted rate in San Francisco but this does not guarantee that these rates apply in other locations.

Teresa explained, "Two California bills mandated that phone companies in California meet the needs of the disabled. In 1997 the Federal Communication Committee (FCC) said all phone companies had to be accessible to the disabled but did not give a plan for implementing this goal. Most states are still working on the plan."