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Submitted via IRC for Runaway1956
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai has proposed a new spending cap on the FCC's Universal Service programs that deploy broadband to poor people and to rural and other underserved areas.
Pai reportedly circulated the proposal to fellow commissioners on Tuesday, meaning it will be voted upon behind closed doors instead of in an open meeting. Pai has not released the proposal publicly, but it was described in a Politico report Wednesday, and an FCC official confirmed the proposal's details to Ars. Democratic FCC commissioners and consumer advocacy groups have criticized Pai's plan, saying it could harm the FCC's efforts to expand broadband access.
The FCC's Universal Service system's purpose is to bring communications service access to all Americans and consists of four programs: The Connect America Fund, which gives ISPs money to deploy broadband in rural areas; Lifeline, which provides discounts on phone and broadband service to low-income consumers; the E-Rate broadband program for schools and libraries; and a telecom access program for rural health care providers.
Pai's plan suggests an $11.4 billion annual cap on the total cost of the four programs, which is more than current spending but would put an upper bound on what the program could spend in the future. The cap would be indexed for inflation, FCC Commissioner Michael O'Rielly wrote on Twitter.
(Score: 2) by Kalas on Wednesday April 03 2019, @01:59PM
Read it more carefully. This is merely setting a cap on future spending that happens to be higher than the current annual budget. It will only serve to reduce then stop future increases in spending as the budget approaches cap. Considering that Pai has turned the FCC's official goal into screwing over Americans (but especially the poor ones), plus that this proposed policy can only serve to limit spending on infrastructure, you'd be deluded to think this is a good thing for anyone other than the politicians taking a percentage to screw over their fellow countrymen and the ISPs who will continue building practically nothing with the money they're given for rural development.
If it weren't for that last part this wouldn't be quite as bad, but none of Pai's actions so far indicate concern for anything other than profits so you can be sure this policy won't implement more regulation and oversight ensuring that the govt. money bestowed upon ISPs is properly spent.