Thune, Cruz complain that $30 discounts go to people who "already had broadband."
    • shalafi@lemmy.worldEnglish
      41·
      11 months ago

      Nah, they’re just going with what their donors want, nothing more sinister.

      Funny thing is, last I looked several years ago, telecoms donated to both parties. I mean, why not? In their position, wouldn’t you? Funny how those donations mainly seem to work out for them on the GOP side. Ain’t that strange? Lack of moral fiber perhaps? We may never know.

    • agent_flounder@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      11 months ago

      Would this cut them off from Fox “News” though?

      It’s just more fake social hierarchy bullshit. “Poor? Your fault. Fuck you. I got mine.”

  • skydivekingair@lemmy.world
    71·
    11 months ago

    “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." While I’m all for assistance being given to those in need this sounds like many who don’t need are taking advantage of it. I’m aware there are households who had broadband prior to this subsidy that can’t afford it, but still have it because of its necessity. Much like many social assistance programs there’s the weight of helping those in need vs giving scammers money. So I don’t know if there is an answer shy of making certain those requesting the money are as badly off as they say, which I’m not a fan of that type of invasiveness either.

    22 million on the program now and 25 million estimated by April. At $30 a month that’s $750mm, the program is requesting $6 Billion to fund it through December.

    Another interesting note is usually Republicans are completely bought by telecom, and if this were in danger of ‘unplugging’ 22 million Americans that would be a chunk out of IPs’ revenue.

    Maybe the best answer is take those billions and set up public service IPs.