I got an e-mail from someone at Sprint yesterday asking me to pass along this information, which I will gladly do.

Of course they're doing it for good PR and marketing, but does that really matter? Anything that helps people (and doesn't hurt other people) is good, even if there is an ulterior motive. Good on Sprint for doing the right thing and helping poor folks in Michigan. The program has already launched in Tennessee and New York, and they're planning on expanding the program to other states too which is great.

These days I'm pretty busy so I'm just going to copy the press release they sent.
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NEW ASSURANCE WIRELESS CAMPAIGN ALERTS LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN MICHIGAN TO
FREE WIRELESS SERVICE FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST

WARREN, NJ - March 24, 2010– A public awareness campaign in Michigan
launches this week about Assurance Wireless by Virgin Mobile, a new cell
phone service that makes wireless calling available at no cost to more than
835,600 eligible low-income households throughout Michigan. Assurance
Wireless, one of Sprint’s prepaid brands, provides more free wireless
minutes per month than other similar prepaid programs. Michigan residents
may begin applying for Assurance Wireless on March 29.

With more people needing assistance in this difficult economy, Assurance
Wireless is providing additional relief to those who need it most.
Qualifying Assurance Wireless customers in Michigan will be eligible to
receive a free handset and 200 minutes of free wireless local and
long-distance calling within the United States every month.

Customers eligible for Assurance Wireless include those eligible for or
receiving Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food
stamps), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TANF), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA or Section 8), Low
Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) or the National School Lunch
Program’s Free Lunch Program. Customers may also qualify based on
household income.

“Most of us take cellphone service for granted. Mobile phones allow us to
stay connected with friends, family and employers and provide critical
support in case of emergency,” said Neil Lindsay, CMO for Sprint’s
Prepaid brands. “The government estimates that more than 111,000
households in Michigan became eligible for income-based assistance programs
like food stamps from 2005 to 2008. It is also estimated that the number of
households in the Detroit metropolitan area eligible for assistance programs
increased by over 9,000 within the same three-year span. We are proud to
offer this valuable service, particularly in these tough times, which
disproportionately affect lower income customers.”

Assurance Wireless provides wireless consumers with free voicemail, call
waiting, caller ID, and access to 911 in case of emergency. Beyond the free
200 minutes, customers can pay for additional 10-cent per minute domestic
calling, international calling at competitive rates, 15-cent text, email or
instant messages, and more.

Community organizations that wish to partner with Assurance Wireless in
helping their constituents learn more about the free service should contact
pr@virginmobileusa.com. Assurance Wireless and Virgin Mobile USA are two of
Sprint’s Prepaid brands.

About Assurance Wireless
Assurance Wireless is supported by the Lifeline Assistance program, part of
the Low Income Program of the federal Universal Service Fund (USF), which is
administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), and
designed to ensure that quality telecommunications services are available to
low-income customers at reasonable and affordable rates.

To learn more about Assurance Wireless, including eligibility requirements,
please call 1-888-898-4888, or visit www.assurancewireless.com. Information
is available in English and Spanish