An Obama Phone is a term used to describe a free cell phone provided to low-income Americans who cannot afford to buy them. The program was dubbed "Obama Phone" because of its rapid expansion during the Barack Obama presidency. The program is officially known as the Lifeline Program, which is administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide a monthly phone or broadband internet subsidy to low-income individuals or families. The subsidy is limited to $9.25 per household per month and can apply to either fixed line or cell phone service. The program started in 1985 but experienced dramatic expansion to more users under the Obama Administration. The Lifeline Program continues to grow because, while cell phones and monthly plans have certainly come down in price, their cost is still out of reach for many Americans. The Obama Phone program gives struggling low-income Americans free cell phones, voice minutes, and texting, and now most companies include hundreds of megabytes of mobile internet data usage.