Posted on 01/18/2024 4:04:26 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
The Federal Communications Commission has begun winding down a program that helps low-income people pay for internet service, which would affect 67,548 subscribers in Allegheny County alone.
In a conference call Tuesday, FCC officials said most of the funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program will run out by the end of April without additional appropriations from Congress. Enrollment in the program, which has nearly 23 million beneficiaries nationwide, is scheduled to close Feb. 7.
“It’s going to be a mess to notify all these people,” said Dave Sevick, executive director of Computer Reach, a Homewood nonprofit that refurbishes laptops for distribution to needy families. “It’s really a sad story of hurting people who are low income.”
Affordability was a key element of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that was signed into law by President Joe Biden, which included $14.2 billion for the Affordable Connectivity Program. Now, Congressional approval is needed to continue the program after the initial funding runs out in April.
Some 745,124 Pennsylvanians use the program’s $30 per month subsidy to offset the cost of internet access, according to the Universal Service Administrative Co., a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit.
The Biden Administration has requested an additional $6 billion to extend the program and bipartisan lawmakers have introduced the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act, which would provide $7 billion to continue the subsidy.
Sponsors of the bill include senators Peter Welch, a Democrat from Vermont and J.D. Vance, a Republican from Ohio; and U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Philadelphia. Supporters include over 400 organizations representing industry and community organizations, including AgeWell at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill and Allies for Children, North Shore.
(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...
she could probably pay for the internet without the monthly FCC subsidy,
Well, then, DO IT!
WTH am I paying yours for?
The downward spiral of socialism will continue unabated with RINOS casting the needed votes to steal 7 billion more of taxpayer money. Let’s the IP’s provide the discounts not taxpayers, they don’t want to lose millions of subscribers.
The Puppet asked for $6 billion and the Republicans offered $7 billion.
It’s so easy to spend other peoples money.
Per Dennis Prager, most people want to be taken care of. The Republican collapsing and caving on domestic spending WILL NOT STOP until most people have a different attitude.
See #5.
I predict the program will be renewed once _resident Briben realizes that they need to buy more votes.
I suggest we bundle up that money and send it to Zelensky.
Wrong on two counts. He is not from Killadelphia, and he is a RINO, not a Republican.
“67,548 subscribers in Allegheny County alone.”
Welfare sucks.
Is this another affordable program, like the affordable care act? When they say affordable, hold on to your wallet.
The advertisers should be paying us to subscribe.
Deep State NEVER cuts the theft and corruption.
They always cut programs that hurt the little guy most of all.
It’s all about narrative and optics.
No, you cannot shutdown the gubmint because...
Note to folks who suck off the government teat: A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take it all away.
When unaffordable government budgets come crashing against the sea of inflation.
Here’s what inflation is really like: it now takes an income of about $100,000 to support a middle-class lifestyle. A few years ago, you needed maybe $60,000 or so.
But it’s only 3%. /sarc
Give them bread and circuses and the peasants will never revolt worked well for a while. Now it’s porn and wifi.
“...spending WILL NOT STOP until most people have a different attitude...”
Indeed, this sort of GOPe reckless spending has been going on for decades, one needs to accept the fact the GOP/uniparty has help raised the debt ceiling to where it is now, to blame the rats for it is whistling past the graveyard. I just accepted a complete collapse (national debt catalyst) of the country by the end of the decade. Blood pressure is much lower these days accepting this nation is run by one party pretending to be two.
14 billion here, 49 billion there, billions everywhere. The Pervert just doesn’t get it. As do most members of Congress.the
Any wealth the USA has had is gone as is any trust by that part of the world that’s meaningful. The world watches us spend money like children and they continue to watch.
So, we are now a melting pot with lots of diversity, but incapable of educating or having jobs for the millions of functional illiterate.
Why do the power hungry hate this country? Why do they want it destroyed?
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