FCC votes 3-2 to approve $9.25 per month broadband Internet subsidy for low-income Americans

[captaincranky]

Really? I don't see why political discussions always have to devolve into this. Why is it never enough to disagree on the substance of policy? That comment was in poor taste and certainly uncalled for.

It was intended to be in poor taste. But then, the truth never is in good taste. No apology will be forthcoming.

BTW, when did you get to be in charge here?

 

[Loulu]

I don't mind this, if it just applies to the most basic internet service. I interact with a lot of low income people, and the majority of them work, and pay for a regular smart phone. They probably qualify for an Obama phone, but those phones are too basic. So the only people that I see with Obama phones are elderly people, or people are really in a bad situation, like on wheel chairs.

Since the phones are so basic, low income able body people prefer to get a good enough smartphone. They can afford it.

So that's why I rather see something similar, for the most basic internet service.

Yes like the 80% of little old White women who live here at my Senior Housing Apt.Bldg. with Obama cell phones.

 

[captaincranky]

Yes like the 80% of little old White women who live here at my Senior Housing Apt.Bldg. with Obama cell phones.

I'm not really sure why this is a big deal. I thought Comcast already had $10.00 internet service (*) for the needy, not merely having the government "pay the taxes" on full pop internet service.

Second, how far out of your way to you have to go to get dial up service these days? So, broadband is the norm rather than the exception anyway. Even Verizon's crappy 1 meg service is considered "broadband".

As for the "Obama phones". I believe those are an extension of the already established, "Life Line 100", & "Lifeline 135" programs(**), which would have given the same income bracket individuals free landline phones anyway. It's just that in the past, you didn't have people knocking at your door trying to give you one...

Yours truly, a little old white man living in his own house in the hood, with an Obama phone all my own.

(*) But yes, I believe there's only so many of those ten buck accounts Comcast is willing to part with.

(**) BTW, these programs allegedly pander to income brackets rather than ethnicity. Isn't that the way it's supposed to work?

 

[psycros]

"That figure drops to around 40 percent in homes with an annual income of less than $25,000."

You mean like in states where broadband isn't even AVAILABLE to half the population? What if I told you its not about income, its about AVAILABILITY? But no, we're the federal government so let's ignore all those flyover states and keep buying every vote in the projects.

 

[SamShobotnik]

I don't mind this, if it just applies to the most basic internet service. I interact with a lot of low income people, and the majority of them work, and pay for a regular smart phone. They probably qualify for an Obama phone, but those phones are too basic. So the only people that I see with Obama phones are elderly people, or people are really in a bad situation, like on wheel chairs.

Since the phones are so basic, low income able body people prefer to get a good enough smartphone. They can afford it.

So that's why I rather see something similar, for the most basic internet service.

Typical liberal loon.Nobody,I repeat,nobody,needs a smartphone.They are a convenience,if you want to call them that,not a necessity.

 

[captaincranky]

"That figure drops to around 40 percent in homes with an annual income of less than $25,000."

You mean like in states where broadband isn't even AVAILABLE to half the population? What if I told you its not about income, its about AVAILABILITY? But no, let's ignore all those flyover states and keep buying every vote in the projects.

Why the hell not? That's what the rest of our democratic politics are about these days, minority pandering and appeasement.

 

[captaincranky]

Typical liberal loon.Nobody,I repeat,nobody,needs a smartphone.They are a convenience,if you want to call them that,not a necessity.

Dude, I'm horrified myself when the talk about the internet being a right. I was going to call them "an imbeciles idea of being in paradise". But I didn't want to get yelled again so soon in the same thread.

As far as "free smart phones are concerned", all the "Obama phones" do, is make phone calls, and the free minutes are limited to 250 per month. No siree, you can't steal Kanye West's new album with an Obama phone, and that's that.

 

[davislane1]

Really? I don't see why political discussions always have to devolve into this. Why is it never enough to disagree on the substance of policy? That comment was in poor taste and certainly uncalled for.

You must be a riot at get togethers. A neutron bomb of fun.

 

[captaincranky]

You must be a riot at get togethers. A neutron bomb of fun.

I finding it hard to believe I couldn't squeeze a "like" out of you for my response to him., I'm deeply discouraged and disappointed. I'll try to be ruder in a more articulate manner in the future.(y)

 

[davislane1]

I finding it hard to believe I couldn't squeeze a "like" out of you for my response to him., I'm deeply discouraged and disappointed. I'll try to be ruder in a more articulate manner in the future.(y)

Your can-do attitude is a beacon of courage in a sea of women.

 

[J spot]

Typical liberal loon.Nobody,I repeat,nobody,needs a smartphone.They are a convenience,if you want to call them that,not a necessity.

Not sure why you called me a loon. You must be a person who's really obsessed with politics. Not sure where I said everyone needs a smartphone. I pretty much said the opposite. That like the Obama phones, only the most basic service/phones should be provided, and if anyone wants something better, they should pay for it. I also mentioned that that's my observation. Since the phone are so basic, where I work, the only people that I see with them are people in wheelchairs and old lady.

 

[captaincranky]

Not sure why you called me a loon. You must be a person who's really obsessed with politics. Not sure where I said everyone needs a smartphone. I pretty much said the opposite. That like the Obama phones, only the most basic service/phones should be provided, and if anyone wants something better, they should pay for it. I also mentioned that that's my observation. Since the phone are so basic, where I work, the only people that I see with them are people in wheelchairs and old lady.

Don't you have someplace to go? Maybe like standing in line for three days waiting for a new iPhone or something

 

[Panda218]

What a community we have on TS.

 

[davislane1]

What a community we have on TS.

I think that the diversity of temperaments here is great. The inclusiveness is breathtakingly progressive.

 

[captaincranky]

This should be self explanatory:

 

[geowb]

There appears to be more a ploy to get into the pockets of these lower income folks via internet advertising than something out of the kindness of their hearts.