Choice Communications is now offering a free cell phone and 100 minutes per month to qualified low-income individuals and families through the Lifeline program, an affordable telephone service assistance program sponsored by the Federal Communications Commission and the V.I.Public Service Commission.

“Having a telephone is a basic necessity today,” Choice General Manager Tony Shepherd said in a statement issued Tuesday. “It is important that we all have a connection to emergency services, support resources and our social network. It is also very hard to find and keep a job without having a telephone. Our goal is to help eligible V.I. individuals and families by supplying them with phones and service.”

Heads of household over the age of 18 are eligible if they haven’t already received Lifeline telephone assistance at their current address and are currently head of their household. The V.I. Department of Human Services requires the income for qualifying residents not exceed $25,000 for a one-person household or $40,000 if there are 2 or more persons in the household.

For more information or to find out if you qualify for the program, call Choice Wireless at 340-220-2464 or visit choice-wireless.com and click on the "Lifeline" link at the bottom of the homepage. Applications for the Lifeline program are available at Choice retail locations, including the newest Choice store on St. John at The Marketplace.