These States Depend on 'Obama Phone' the Most

The Federal Communications Commission plans to expand Lifeline, a government program that subsidizes telephone service for the poor. California, New York and Florida are among the states that depend on the subsidy the most. California tops the list with about 1.5 million subscribers, according to data from the Universal Service Administration Company (USAC), while New York has just under 1 million. Wyoming and South Dakota have the fewest subscribers, USAC data shows. States and tribal territories that offer both of the top Lifeline providers -- Assurance Wireless, a subsidiary of Virgin Mobile, and SafeLink Wireless, a subsidy of TrackFone -- tend to have the largest subscriber figures, according to Philip Colvin of USAC, which serves as the program's administrator. He added that those mobile providers are the most aggressive at promoting Lifeline plans, which is probably why they have the most subscribers.