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Republicans Kill Popular FCC Program That Made Broadband Affordable for the Poor

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Re: Republicans Kill Popular FCC Program That Made Broadband Affordable for the Poor

#51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not cheaper to allow error when the error is the only thing driving excess cost.

What evidence do you have that erroneous benefits are the only thing driving excess cost? Do you feel that correcting the errors can be done with no cost whatsoever? We can argue about where that break point is, but the break point absolutely exists. There is a level of verification / enforcement that will cost more than what you're getting back through reduction of erroneously distributed benefits.

Congrats to this thread for intelligently considerately tugging at the thread here.

I have such a hard time staying so level. It's so obvious to me what a a benefit internet connectivity is to this nation. Giving families access will set people on far better paths, will have economic returns for the nation. The costs here seem not bad. I'm definitely not worried about a couple arguably less deserving people getting access, especially given the relatively minor pay-out involved. It seems obviously not worth it to care so intensely about some borderline cases of oh you make $62k now (or whatever), sorry you are cut off now.

Ideally we would be figuring out how to make connectivity a public utility, as so many municipalities have done over the world, greatly reducing cost and increasing speed. But in America we keep having to pay businesses to do things at enormous costs, protect their absurd profit margins, because in part there's so much fear & angst around government & public ownership.

Re: Republicans Kill Popular FCC Program That Made Broadband Affordable for the Poor

#52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not cheaper to allow error when the error is the only thing driving excess cost.

What evidence do you have that erroneous benefits are the only thing driving excess cost? Do you feel that correcting the errors can be done with no cost whatsoever? We can argue about where that break point is, but the break point absolutely exists. There is a level of verification / enforcement that will cost more than what you're getting back through reduction of erroneously distributed benefits.

Yeah, it's very simple, just lower the income requirement. There is no cost to it at all.

Re: Republicans Kill Popular FCC Program That Made Broadband Affordable for the Poor

#53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Over 100k, 2 parents and a baby. But the baby came in December.

I'm no expert (and couldn't find income ranges) but on the calculator I believe the cut off for a family of 4 is $60K (it varies state-by-state). There are also other eligibility options. Source: https://verify.affordableconnectivity.gov

My ISP sent me an email and invited me to apply, so I did and was accepted. And yes, I filled out the form accurately.

Re: Republicans Kill Popular FCC Program That Made Broadband Affordable for the Poor

#54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Over 100k, 2 parents and a baby. But the baby came in December.

So you don’t qualify for the program according to the guidelines but it was still given how?

I have no idea. My internet provider asked me to apply, so I did and was accepted. And no, I did not falsify my income.

Re: Republicans Kill Popular FCC Program That Made Broadband Affordable for the Poor

#55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

I didn't intend to be controversial when I posted my comment. To not risk inflaming matters further I'll refrain from commenting on your points. (I cannot recall having so many down-votes in such quick succession on HN previously. Although unintended, I've clearly struck a nerve or two.)

You asked essential questions and triggered a helpful discussion. Think of breaking eggs to make an omelet situation.

Your downvotes show you irritated the right people. :-)

+1 from me.

Re: Republicans Kill Popular FCC Program That Made Broadband Affordable for the Poor

#56
post #25

It seems like with all the many billions that have been spent on various rural/universal access/subsidy schemes over the past decades we literally could have run fiber to every building in the United States by now lol

But that wouldn't have allowed Comcast and AT&T to continue their duopoly dance to the tune of record profits as easily. It's honestly past time to start regulating Internet as a public utility. Look at the municipalities that have public Internet (Chattanooga, TN is the big one here but there are others) and the speed, quality and customer satisfaction is through the roof.

They should just allow PG&E to merge with Comcast. All these problems would be solved by the cpuc. Why don’t the political partisans want easy answers like that?

Re: Republicans Kill Popular FCC Program That Made Broadband Affordable for the Poor

#57

I don't live in the US although I've been there many times and I've even worked there at times yet I still cannot understand why the country is deliberately tearing itself apart on matters like this. If you want to alienate one section of one's community then this is a surefire way of doing it. Why is it that Republicans so despise and revile the poorer sections of their community? Don't they realize the actual damag…

There is no way to ask this question here without it devolving deep into politics, but here we go. Republicans don't have policy to run on. They pander to their base, while also laughing behind their back [1]. Their base votes for them because these representatives appeal to their feelings, even though the people they vote for are actively harming them (red states are finally, begrudgingly, adopting Federal Medcaid e…

This is remarkably clear thinking and serious analysis. Thank you for the insightful scholarly contribution!

Re: Republicans Kill Popular FCC Program That Made Broadband Affordable for the Poor

#58
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My family is at least 4x the poverty level income.

There's also the argument that your taxes paid for it so you're entitled to it too. Hence why Paul McCartney gets a monthly senior's bus pass in the UK. Its also cheaper to "dispense" it universally as you don't have to hire bureaucrats to means test if you're entitled to it. The problem with politicians on both sides of the aisle is they seem steeped in Ideological thinking rather than logical thinking. This I think…

Yeah I think there's a great argument to be made for that. I wish all my tax money went to stuff like this. But in that case it's not a benefit for the poor, it's a benefit for the taxpayer. It's the false advertising that I take issue with.

Re: Republicans Kill Popular FCC Program That Made Broadband Affordable for the Poor

#59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is no way to ask this question here without it devolving deep into politics, but here we go. Republicans don't have policy to run on. They pander to their base, while also laughing behind their back [1]. Their base votes for them because these representatives appeal to their feelings, even though the people they vote for are actively harming them (red states are finally, begrudgingly, adopting Federal Medcaid e…

This is remarkably clear thinking and serious analysis. Thank you for the insightful scholarly contribution!

Thank you for the kind words, I appreciate it.

Re: Republicans Kill Popular FCC Program That Made Broadband Affordable for the Poor

#60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can speak as someone who lives in the US and in a state that has a republican super majority in our government. Without making this an issue specific to republicans, the US two-party government often creates an citizenry who views elections as a zero-sum game. One where one side wins and therefore the other must lose. Increasingly, republicans are attempting to foster an environment where the larger, democratic cit…

Coal mining represents a very small part of the American and rural economy. It was simply used as a wedge by wealthy Republicans to divide Americans. https://www.statista.com/statistics/215790/coal-mining-emplo...

Arby’s employees more people than the coal industry.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/03/31/8-sur...

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