Assurance Wireless
Assurance Wireless is a telephone service subsidized by the federal Lifeline Assistance program, a government benefit program supported by the federal Universal Service Fund. Assurance Wireless is a federal Lifeline Assistance program. The Assurance Wireless offer provides to low-income eligible people: a free phone, free monthly data, unlimited texting, and free monthly minutes. Assurance Wireless users do not receive a bill, are not required to sign a contract, and do not pay activation fees or recurring fees. According to Hotspot Setup, "the two largest providers of free mobile phones are Safelink Wireless and Assurance Wireless, which are  available in more states than other providers." Eligibility. As of December 2020, Assurance Wireless service is available to qualifying residents of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. Ownership. As of April 2020, the Assurance Wireless brand is now under the T-Mobile family after the Merger of Sprint Corporation and T-Mobile US  was officially completed and after Virgin Mobile USA was officially shut down and folded into Boost Mobile. An official statement was sent to all customers July 14, 2020 stating that all customers would continue to have the same minutes, data, and service, but now on the T-Mobile network. In 2019 before the merger, T-Mobile President Mike Sievert said in a statement to USA Today, “The digital divide is real and we want to help eliminate it. We have pledged that the new T-Mobile will maintain the existing T-Mobile and Sprint Lifeline program throughout the country indefinitely , barring fundamental changes to today’s program.”