Friday, August 09, 2024

Cruz Pledges to Kill Funding Effort for Broadband Program

Karl Bode: We just noted how several Trumplican lawmakers recently killed a popular program that helped deliver a $30 discount off of the broadband bills of low income Americans. The FCC's Affordable Care Program (ACP) ...

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... A new bipartisan bill proposes to fix both problems at once: the PLAN for broadband Act would dole out $7 billion in funding to help fund ACP, and another $3 billion to help fund efforts to replace Huawei network components with safer alternatives. A large chunk of the costs would be offset by FCC spectrum auction proceeds. This level of money is, if you're new to the U.S., routinely wasted on much dumber fare.

Enter Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who is now proudly declaring that he'll work tirelessly to ensure the bipartisan bill doesn't pass. Cruz claims he's concerned about the cost of the program: ...


#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-08-09 11:59 AM

Sen Cruz was also "concerned" about the FEMA cost for the northeast victims of Superstorm Sandy.

But he was first in line asking FEMA for help when a hurricane hit Texas.


#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-08-09 12:01 PM

Ted Cruz is jock itch in human form.

#3 | Posted by Nixon at 2024-08-09 01:01 PM

$10 Billion?

But he will rubber stamp the DOD funding of $800 BILLION.

And he voted for $2 TRILLION + in tax cuts for billionaires.

What an utter piece of ----.

His concern for "cost" is because it benefits poor people who in his mind don't deserve any help to succeed in life.

---- him and his theocratic --------.

#4 | Posted by Nixon at 2024-08-09 01:05 PM

Out of the approximately 11M households in Texas, 1,718,552 receive this benefit. Cruz actively is trying to financially harm about 10% of his state.

#5 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2024-08-09 01:49 PM

Broadband so poor people can watch Netflix easily?

That's a thing?

I'm not really poor, I don't have broadband.

#6 | Posted by madbomber at 2024-08-10 04:41 AM

High speed internet is the rural telephone of our time, and the feds certainly financed Ma Bell. I was one who got the Affordable Care Act benefit, and it was useful. These days, with the slow demise of local print media...the internet is how we stay connected to our communities. But then, people don't vote for people like Ted Cruz because he is able to get things done, no, in fact, they like him because he is totally on board the Republican Party perspective of take from the poor and give to the rich.
One wonders just how he will vote to shore up SS and Medicare.

#7 | Posted by Hughmass at 2024-08-10 07:22 AM

HUGHMASS

Not to be picky I think the headline meant to say the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Affordable Care Act is health insurance ~ Obama Care.

Funding for The Affordable Connectivity Program is the one Republicans cancelled this year that provided a $30 discount, among other thing, for internet service for low income people.

Kamila Harris will, if possible, refund it again next year, depending on the outcome of the election.

Donald Trump, of course, wouldn't.

#8 | Posted by Twinpac at 2024-08-10 08:55 AM

*Kamala

#9 | Posted by Twinpac at 2024-08-10 08:57 AM

__________
Cruz Pledges to Kill Funding Effort for Broadband Program

ACP was (maybe will be again) one of the more useful and least wasteful programs, with strict eligibility requirements for low income families and minimal administration costs, targeting connectivity - not specifically broadband, but since phone, cable and fixed wireless ISPs in the US have been investing in "broadband everywhere" it's pretty much what you'll get anyway, even in most rural locations.

It's needed especially for hybrid workers, and as more students downloading their homework from school or online courses like Khan Academy or MIT. In addition, using VoIP and other "broadband" tech may increase their choices of plans and reduce phone expenses.

Saving $360/yr may not seem much, but for many low-income families battered by inflation it's a help for something that today is likely a necessity for work or education.

www.forbes.com - this article is from last year, before ACP was "cancelled" in Congress.
__________

#10 | Posted by CutiePie at 2024-08-11 12:28 AM

Republicans have a vested interest in keeping the masses uneducated and ignorant. Broadband for the poor is dangerous. It will neuter the grip of ubiquitious pro fascist propoganda media networks like Fox and Sinclair these folks depend on for their news and information.

#11 | Posted by AlternateFacts at 2024-08-11 03:34 AM

The GOP elite wants to keep Americans in The Matrix.

Progressives and Democrats have taken the Red Pill years ago; the 1% uber-wealthy want to keep feeding the Blue Pill of ignorance to the American masses.

#12 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2024-08-11 03:56 AM

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