Rep Seeks to Limit Wasteful, Fraudulent Phones
Oklahoma Lawmaker Hopes To Crack Down On Free Cell Phone Fraud
Posted: Feb 15, 2013
Dee Duren, NewsOn6.com
OKLAHOMA CITY – An Oklahoma bill to tighten restrictions on the federal free cell phone bill is advancing to the House Appropriations and Budget Committee. State Representative Jon Echols (R-Oklahoma City) said his legislation is intended to cut down on the “blatant government waste” in the Lifeline program that provides cell phones to low-income Americans.
House Bill 2165 would give the Oklahoma Corporation Commission the ability to issue fines to companies that violate rules of the program. Those violations have resulted in individuals getting phones using fake names and addresses as well as getting multiple free cell phones.
Our 6 Investigates team went undercover to show how the program is losing millions each year to waste, fraud and abuse.