this post was submitted on 04 Jan 2024
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Republicans Trying To Kill Program That Brings Affordable Broadband To The Poor (www.techdirt.com)
submitted 10 months ago by L4s@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
19 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Republicans Trying To Kill Program That Brings Affordable Broadband To The Poor::Last month we noted how a program aimed at helping low income Americans afford broadband was at risk of being dismantled thanks to congressional incompetence and corruption. The FCC program, dubbed the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), was part of the 2021 infrastructure bill. It provides low-income Americans $30 off their monthly broadband bill. 22 million…

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[–] bobs_monkey@lemm.ee 51 points 10 months ago (1 children)

We need to nationalize broadband already, or at the very least loft the restrictions placed on localities that forbid a public network option. Several municipal networks around the country (ie Chattanooga) have proven that a public option works exceedingly well, and it's a shocking discovery what happens to the private companies that actually have to compete: their service improves while their prices drop. The restrictions imposed on municipalities is a blatant example of local, state, and federal corruption.

[–] snekerpimp@lemmy.world 34 points 10 months ago (1 children)

“Think of my unfortunate owner -er- I mean constituents that own broadband businesses. They have no money left from the last subsidy we gave them to make faster broadband (that they pocketed), to make that same broadband that they didn’t upgrade even cheaper for poor folks! How do we expect them to buy their second or third yachts by helping the poors?”

[–] aelwero@lemmy.world 14 points 10 months ago (1 children)

There's 22 million people receiving a $30 subsidy, that's a $660 million payout from government to those broadband businesses...

"Helping the poors" is directly helping them buy yachts by adding $660 million dollars to what the market can support. you're narrative is fucky.

Repubs want to shut it off because it's welfare, and they think poor people get that way by choice and shouldn't get any handouts. It's just simple Intolerance is all

[–] snekerpimp@lemmy.world 6 points 10 months ago

You’re right, I totally had the wrong reason the GOP is being shitty this time. It’s the crushing of the poor because they are poor, not because the poor are taking from the rich.

My bad.

[–] iforgotmyinstance@lemmy.world 14 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Nothing but good comes from a program likes this. Honestly wtf.

[–] Ghyste@sh.itjust.works 10 points 10 months ago

Gives a clear view of their actual mindset, does it not?

[–] Seasoned_Greetings@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

Not for the corporations that make money off of extorting a basic necessity from poor people! Won't someone think of the corporations?

[–] RadialMonster@lemmy.world 14 points 10 months ago (2 children)

“As lawmakers with oversight responsibility over the ACP, we have raised concerns, shared by the FCC Inspector General, regarding the program’s effectiveness in connecting non-subscribers to the Internet,” the lawmakers wrote. “While you have repeatedly claimed that the ACP is necessary for connecting participating households to the Internet, it appears the vast majority of tax dollars have gone to households that already had broadband prior to the subsidy.

I can't wait to use this argument against them about school vouchers

[–] bassomitron@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I actually know tons of coworkers that have consistently told me to sign up for this program. I know for a fact they are not in the poverty band. They also had broadband before they applied. I never even attempted to apply, because it seems like a shitty thing to do as it does give these assholes ammunition to axe a program that really is helping legitimate poor folks out.

Regardless, ~$600 million is fucking pennies to the federal government, it's beyond insane for them to be so concerned about such a miniscule amount of the annual budget. Just tighten the credit check process on applying and the problem of people who aren't in poverty getting free money goes away. The GOP just wants to make poor people/women/anyone different than them suffer, fuck their nonsense.

As for school vouchers... I need to get to sleep and that rant will get my blood pressure too elevated.

[–] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

"they were already buying food so they obviously don't need food stamps. Takers!"

Any bailout of a corporation is fine though

[–] darthsid@lemmy.world 10 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Every time I see a news article like this I’m confused as it seems Republicans are clearly putting their own voter base down, yet continue to be supported by them.

[–] kameecoding@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

They don't care because they promise to keep woke liberals, negros and mexicans downer and that's all that matters to them.

Also no abortions for those whores, who unlike me need it because they are sluts, I only need it because we can't afford to have another child, it's different

[–] fluxion@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

Republicans voters have been brainwashed by a constant firehose of misinformation. Everything is always the fault of Biden and the "Demonrats". GOP has no accountability.

[–] LodeMike@lemmy.today 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Fuck, they actually hate poor people.

[–] rottingleaf@lemmy.zip 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I think they just can't read the room. They may be against this via some thought process of this kind: "people in the Interwebs hate us, so if we make it more expensive, fewer people hate us". They really may not be getting the fact that everybody is on the Web now.

EDIT: But, as others have said, this means shitting on their own voter base. They could have literally improved their popularity very tangibly by supporting a few moves of this kind, most important for rural poorer voters.