Trumps new Republican FCC Blocks ISPs from Giving Low-Income Families Web Access

[Bladewire]

So much for Trump helping the middle class and the poor.

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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), newly under Republican control, on Friday blocked nine internet companies from providing service to low-income users, curtailing a groundbreaking program green-lit during the previous administration.

Under the new Republican FCC chairman Ajit Pai, an appointee of President Donald Trump, the commission told the handful of internet service providers (ISPs) that they could not take part in the Lifeline broadband program just weeks after the companies were qualified. Lifeline, approved in 2015, subsidizes internet access for low-income consumers as part of the FCC's efforts to recognize broadband services as an essential public utility.

The nine ISPs' status are now considered "pending." Their bids will be reconsidered after "additional time to consider measures that might be necessary to prevent further waste, fraud, and abuse in the Lifeline program," the FCC wrote in its statement, echoing terminology often invoked by Republicans, including Trump, as an excuse to cut safety net programs.

GOPUSA - FCC stops 9 companies from providing federally subsidized Internet to low income people

Trump's FCC Blocks ISPs from Giving Low-Income Families Web Access | Common Dreams | Breaking News & Views for the Progressive Community

[Barry-xlovecam]

They (they new FCC and its chair) are also reversing the rulings on net neutrality. Stifling the competition is a high national priority apparently. Long live Comcast and ATT!

[crockett]

For the People!

[Rochard]

Congrats to the winners.

[Joshua G]

why should anyone believe links to liberal fake news?

dumb libs...you whine about alt right, then you post alt-left.

retards.

[TampaToker]

Fuck that let them pay for there own internet i do

[RedFred]

Who Will Be Hit The Hardest By Trump's Policies? Trump Voters

[JohnnyClips - BANNED FOR LIFE]

Fake news

[Bladewire]

Responses so far from trump cucks:

1) fake news

2) fuck the poor

[JohnnyClips - BANNED FOR LIFE]

Originally Posted by Bladewire

Responses so far from trump cucks:

1) fake news

2) fuck the poor

Who the fuck cares about the poor? Certainly not you and certainly not me. Certainly no the democrats and certainly not the republicans

"caring about the poor" is just a phrase used by self centered people to make themselves feel good

[blackmonsters]

Originally Posted by TampaToker

Fuck that let them pay for there own internet i do

And it's done wonders for your grammar and sentence structure.

[Joshua G]

im sorry. the OP bladewire claims to care for the poor...while he brags here about selling drugs to them.

thanks for the lulz dumb dumb.

[JohnnyClips - BANNED FOR LIFE]

It's total fake news anyways

[TampaToker]

Originally Posted by Bladewire

Responses so far from trump cucks:

2) fuck the poor

Really? Please explain to me why should tax payers have to pay for peoples internet. I mean seriously what possible reason a person can not live without the internet. I could see food,water or shelter but internet come on.

[JohnnyClips - BANNED FOR LIFE]

Originally Posted by TampaToker

Really? Please explain to me why should tax payers have to pay for peoples internet. I mean seriously what possible reason a person can not live without the internet. I could see food,water or shelter but internet come on.

lol the left strikes again!

[TampaToker]

Originally Posted by JohnnyClips

lol the left strikes again!

Its really starting to get past the point of ridiculous now

[JohnnyClips - BANNED FOR LIFE]

Originally Posted by TampaToker

Its really starting to get past the point of ridiculous now

Yea, they are to the left of stalin and are becoming very violent

[Bladewire]

Originally Posted by TampaToker

Really? Please explain to me why should tax payers have to pay for peoples internet. I mean seriously what possible reason a person can not live without the internet. I could see food,water or shelter but internet come on.

So coal miners out of work in Appalachia on government subsidies in the middle of nowhere should choose between food & clothes or communicating with the rest of the world?

I get kepping the base stupid and uninformed but this takes it to a new level.

[TCLGirls]

Originally Posted by TampaToker

Really? Please explain to me why should tax payers have to pay for peoples internet. I mean seriously what possible reason a person can not live without the internet. I could see food,water or shelter but internet come on.

Lifeline service is not funded with tax dollars. It's funded from other subscribers. And it's a program initiated during the Reagan admin.

Since 1985, the Lifeline program has provided a discount on phone service for qualifying low-income consumers to ensure that all Americans have the opportunities and security that phone service brings, including being able to connect to jobs, family and emergency services. Lifeline is part of the Universal Service Fund. The Lifeline program is available to eligible low-income consumers in every state, territory, commonwealth, and on Tribal lands.

The Lifeline program is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). USAC is responsible for data collection and maintenance, support calculation, and disbursement for the low-income program. USAC’s website provides information regarding administrative aspects of the low-income program, as well as program requirements.

On March 31, 2016, the Commission adopted a comprehensive reform and modernization of the Lifeline program. In the 2016 Lifeline Modernization Order, the Commission included broadband as a support service in the Lifeline program. The Commission also set out minimum service standards for Lifeline-supported services to ensure maximum value for the universal service dollar, and established a National Eligibility Verifier to make independent subscriber eligibility determinations.

https://www.fcc.gov/general/lifeline...come-consumers

[Fat Panda]

lifeline needs to be shut down

fuck these freeloaders

[JohnnyClips - BANNED FOR LIFE]

No, we don't need or want these freeloaders and low IQ people

[AmeliaG]

I think Internet and probably also certain media should be regulated as utilities, forced not to split up the country into monopolies in violation of antitrust etc,

But, as I recall, Trump promised to help the middle class, not the poor. A lot of people who qualify for Lifeline don't take it because they identify as middle class, whatever their income, and they resent people who grab every handout. A lot of existing welfare programs like this are also brutal to people when they go back to work.

[videobunch]

Why do they not just use the free Cell phones the government provides for their internet?

[Barry-xlovecam]

Trump's FCC begins net neutrality attack | ZDNet

[T]he Trump administration has been long on shoot-from-the-hip decisions and short on reasons for these decisions. Ironically, Pei had just issued a statement claiming that one of his priorities was to "make the agency's operations more transparent."

The long-term effect of this FCC decision will be to break net neutrality. You can count on last-mile ISPs making deals in which partner internet services will be made cheaper while the others become comparatively expensive. Since ISPs seldom face serious competition, you'll be forced to use the "free data" services even if they're not the ones you want. ...

Your internet is going to get more expensive and it is not because some poor person got limited internet to function like a person in modern society.

[JohnnyClips - BANNED FOR LIFE]

Originally Posted by Barry-xlovecam

Trump's FCC begins net neutrality attack | ZDNet


Your internet is going to get more expensive and it is not because some poor person got limited internet to function like a person in modern society.

Good

Because it's not neutral

[SpicyM]

good, less pirates online

[Bladewire]

Originally Posted by AmeliaG

I think Internet and probably also certain media should be regulated as utilities, forced not to split up the country into monopolies in violation of antitrust etc

I agree 100%

Originally Posted by AmeliaG

A lot of people who qualify for Lifeline don't take it because they identify as middle class, whatever their income, and they resent people who grab every handout. A lot of existing welfare programs like this are also brutal to people when they go back to work.

I'm against people that grab every handout. People that work the system take resources from those that really need them and should be cut off and/or prosecuted for fraud.

Our whole system needs to be overhauled so people who need help get ample help to actually help them, not just sustain a poverty existence.

I think subsidised internet for those truly in need that can't afford it is a necessity in this day and age, especially for those in remote places looking for work.

[escorpio]