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WILKESBORO, NC (June 22, 2014) � In a recent U.S. Cellular survey, respondents indicated that 13 was an appropriate age for a child to receive their first mobile phone, whereas five years ago this age was 15.1 Because the appropriate time can vary from family to family, parents can be challenged with how best to introduce their child to their first phone. To make this process as easy as possible for both parents and kids, U.S. Cellular recommends that families work together on guidelines for cellphone usage to ensure that children are using their phones responsibly, courteously and safely.

�Providing a child with their first mobile phone is a big milestone for any parent, and U.S. Cellular wants to provide tools to ensure this process goes as smooth as possible,� said Jack Brundige, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in the Mid-South �Mobile devices are an essential part of our daily lives and with a 4G LTE network families are able to stay connected wherever they live, work or play.�

For parents who are looking to purchase a new mobile device for their child, U.S. Cellular recommends the following tips to help ensure their children�s usage is both safe and courteous:

� Establish guidelines: According to the same U.S. Cellular survey, 72 percent of respondents said they have rules regarding their child�s cellphone use.1 To help simplify this conversation, U.S. Cellular�s Parent-Child Agreement provides customizable suggestions on safety and etiquette and shows how technology can enhance time spent together as a family. It is designed so that each family can choose the guidelines that fit their specific needs.

� Set up their phone: Take the time to set up your child�s phone to ensure they only have access to phone features and apps that are appropriate for their age. The U.S. Cellular Family Protector App provides safety and security by allowing parents to block certain websites and restrict the downloading of applications.

� Monitor usage: Regularly checking in on your child�s mobile phone usage can ensure they are using their phone safely and responsibly. The Family Protector app allows parents to monitor call content including text messages, contacts and call history. It can also set schedules and time limits for usage to ensure children are not using their device when it isn�t allowed, such as during school hours.

U.S. Cellular is offering free Device Workshops in July that focus on making the decision to get children their first phone. At the workshops, U.S. Cellular associates will offer families tips on setting phone guidelines and share suggestions to help with the decision. The next device workshop in Wilkesboro will be on July 8th at 5 p.m. at 1809 U.S. Highway 421, Wilkesboro, NC 28697. Please call 336-838-2355 to RSVP for this device workshop.

� Between Nov. 15 and Dec. 2, 2013, 500 nationally representative online interviews were conducted among smartphone users in partnership with Maritz Research.

4G LTE service provided through King Street Wireless, a partner of U.S. Cellular. LTE is a trademark of ETSI.

About U.S. Cellular
U.S. Cellular rewards its customers with unmatched benefits and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier has a strong line-up of cutting-edge devices that are all backed by its high-speed network that has the highest call quality of any national carrier. Currently, nearly 90 percent of customers have access to 4G LTE speeds, and more than 93 percent will have access by the end of 2014. U.S. Cellular was named a J.D. Power and Associates Customer Champion in 2014 for the third time in four years. To learn more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with U.S. Cellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp.