Issa Asad Florida
Issa Asad Says the Lifeline Program Has a Bright Future
Issa Asad Florida
Issa Asad Florida entrepreneur, also the CEO of Q Link Wireless in Dania, Florida, has indicated that, in the future, Lifeline may include access to broadband with its services to low-income families as part of the Federal Lifeline Assistance Program. Q Link Wireless, and other providers in the area, currently provide subsidized or free cell phone service to low-income families who meet given criteria for eligibility as part of this federal program.
The move in this direction seems to be mainly for the benefit of families with school-aged children, who often need access to the Internet for school homework and projects. Asad explained that the families who currently participate in the Lifeline program benefit greatly from the subsidized cell phone service. He expressed concern regarding the importance of Internet access in the modern age.
Under the current program, disabled individuals, single parents, and low-income senior citizens qualify for either free or subsidized cell phone service. This service has allowed these groups of people to have the necessary means of telephone communication, and Asad thinks that these groups would also see benefit from getting free or subsidized broadband service.
Providing Communication for Teachers
More and more, teachers and schools are using the Internet to communicate with families of students instead of placing phone calls. Even more, teachers are creating websites that contain homework assignments and lesson plans, which are not just supplemental, but also necessary for successful completion of the class. Many students are also required to do research, participate in online classes, and watch video lessons. Email is frequently the preferred method of communication between parents and teachers to discuss the progress and behavior of the children. Without broadband in the home, single parents can have a tough time making sure that their children are actively participating in their education, while still finding or keeping a full time job.
Scheduling
Many family activities are moving quickly towards online scheduling and alerts. Among these are activities that occur on an extremely regular basis, including important appointments regarding medical care. Many healthcare specialists, doctors, pharmacies, and blood labs are taking advantage of the convenience of the Internet for both scheduling appointments and making test results available quickly. Without Internet access, parents are often required to visit or call their necessary medical offices in order to schedule appointments and view their test results. This can take valuable time out of a single parent’s day, especially if they are scheduled to work when the doctors offices are open. This added difficulty sometimes means that appointments are skipped and preventative care is not possible.
Being Exposed to the Outside World
The traditional learning experience isn’t the only growing experience that can be improved for children on the Internet. Broadband Internet access in the home also means that children can see much of the world at their own volition. With the Internet, children in low-income or single parent households can actually learn about topics that were previously only attainable by middle and upper class children. They can have nearly immersive experiences, learning about places they may never have gotten a chance to see otherwise. They can learn about exotic animals, deep sea creatures, computer programming, history, and other topics without having to be from more advantaged families.
Asad also expressed his idea that Internet access is important for every child in the world today, but that it’s even more important for those children who live in homes where they wouldn’t otherwise get to experience outside influences. Whereas in previous generations one of the greatest learning experiences available was traveling the world, at this time the Internet has made it so that children from all different economic backgrounds have the opportunity to see that the world is significantly bigger than just their own backyard, and can spark an interest in these children to learn even more, and aspire to be greater.
Lifeline is a program that provides important communications links for senior citizens, people with a disability, and low-income and single-parent households. If you are a parent interested in finding out more about how the Lifeline program would be improved by the inclusion of broadband, you can visit the website of Q Link Wireless, or give Q Link Wireless of Dania, Florida, a call, toll-free, at 1-855-754-6542.
