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FCC approves $50 monthly internet subsidies for low-income households during pandemic:
The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday approved final rules for a new broadband subsidy program that could help struggling families pay for internet service during the pandemic.
The agency's $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit Program provides eligible low-income households with up to a $50 per month credit on their internet bills through their provider until the end of the pandemic. In tribal areas, eligible households may receive up to $75 per month. The program also provides eligible households up to $100 off of one computer or tablet.
The congressionally created program is aimed at closing the digital divide, which has become painfully apparent over the past year as millions of Americans have been forced to work and learn remotely. Some have also raised concerns that the digital divide could affect access to the vaccine as signups typically happen online.
[...] Last year, Congress passed a coronavirus relief package that contained provisions for the FCC's new program. And the FCC has established a fresh task force this year to improve the data it collects on broadband availability, which could ultimately help the agency better target its efforts to close the gap.
[...] "This is a program that will help those at risk of digital disconnection," Rosenworcel said in a statement. "It will help those sitting in cars in parking lots just to catch a Wi-Fi signal to go online for work. It will help those lingering outside the library with a laptop just to get a wireless signal for remote learning. It will help those who worry about choosing between paying a broadband bill and paying rent or buying groceries."
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 06 2021, @04:01PM (1 child)
It would have been better to address the parasitic rent-seeking behavior of the private ISPs.
Several options.
a) All ISPs use public right-of-ways for their cables or public airwaves for wireless. Make them pay for this use based upon what they charge the customer. 10% profit over expenses or less, nominal or no charge. >10% profit, then equivalent % tax on _revenue_.
b) Better to get capitalist rent-seeking parasites out of anyplace where there are natural monopolies. Give zero funds to these parasites, and provide funds for municipal networks. There are a lot of these government run networks around the country (where Republicans have not outlawed them), and they *always* provide better service at lower prices.
c) Break the monopolies. Require that other carriers be allowed over the incumbent ISPs wires, and that the fee to these other ISPs for carrying the traffic only be sufficient to cover maintenance of the physical infrastructure and a _small_ profit. Or, require that any ISP to be allowed to expand in any area must expand 10-50X that footprint into a competitor's area, first. Best to split the physical infrastructure from the ISP roles, so all incumbents would be broken up into, at least, two companies. And, no special deals between the new physical infrastructure carrier and the ISP bit of their old parent.
Or, any combination of the above, or any other thing you can think of to lessen the control of these parasites over those who have little or no choice to use them, if they want Internet access.
But, giving public money to these parasitic rent-seeking bastards is 100% the wrong thing to do.
E. Musk is a wanker, but Starlink will, at least, create some competition in rural areas. But, $100/mo is way too much to have much of an effect on the incumbents.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Saturday March 06 2021, @04:09PM
I expect a lower price tier for Starlink at some point. The dish might remain the same price though, and it's already supposedly sold nearly $2k under cost.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]