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The Wireless Web: Free at Last?: Too many (blacks) have to rely on libraries
Wall Street Journal ^ | March 19, 2010 | Jesse L. Jackson Jr.

Posted on 03/19/2010 10:22:50 AM PDT by reaganaut1

With a stroke of a pen, the Federal Communications Commission could connect millions of minorities and poor Americans to broadband.

It is a well documented fact that in the United States there are two distinct groups: the broadband haves, and the broadband have nots. Recently the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration released a survey that found that over a third of people in this country do not access broadband at home. Nearly the same percentage do not have access to the Internet anywhere else.

The survey also specifies that over 13 million minority American households do not have broadband either solely or in part because of its expense. In addition to these disparities, a recently released report by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies found that 92% of low-income African- Americans regularly use the Net to look for employment and rely heavily upon overcrowded public institutions such as libraries, schools and community centers to access broadband.

That's why for several years my organization, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, has supported a proposal that the FCC should auction the AWS-3 spectrum band and require that the winner provide a free tier of broadband service nationwide. The auction winner would also have to construct the network on an expedited schedule, and stiff penalties would apply if it fails to meet the designated milestones.

The spectrum band, known as AWS-3, has been lying fallow for nearly 10 years. At present, not one consumer obtains broadband on those frequencies. The plan to establish a free nationwide network (first proposed in 2006) would put the spectrum band to immediate and productive use, ensuring that millions of Americans are not on the wrong side of the digital divide. What's more, it wouldn't cost taxpayers a dime.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: digitaldivide; freeinternetaccess; jessejackson; welfare
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Free health care, free food (stamps), free housing (mortgages "modified by the government) and now free Internet access at taxpayer expense. When government becomes a means to enslave one race to support another, it becomes illegitimate. That was true in 1860, and it is becoming true again.
1 posted on 03/19/2010 10:22:50 AM PDT by reaganaut1
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To: reaganaut1

you mean if i am white i cant get it?


2 posted on 03/19/2010 10:23:43 AM PDT by dalebert
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To: reaganaut1

Wow, seems the only requirement for free stuff is not being white? Great country, huh?


3 posted on 03/19/2010 10:25:41 AM PDT by equalitybeforethelaw
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To: reaganaut1

Don’t forget free cell phone service! That one’s already out there!


4 posted on 03/19/2010 10:25:50 AM PDT by ConjunctionJunction (LOLcat sez: "ObamaCare: Do Not Want!")
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To: reaganaut1

Once the Government regulates free access they have the right to regulate content. When that happens, forums like this one will be eliminated.


5 posted on 03/19/2010 10:27:06 AM PDT by Ben Mugged (Unions are the storm troopers of socialism.)
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To: reaganaut1

Also, Assurance Wireless offers a FREE wireless phone, FREE minutes of wireless service to income-eligible customers.
God bless America.


6 posted on 03/19/2010 10:27:17 AM PDT by FES0844
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To: reaganaut1

Why can’t black people just join society already, and become non-hyphenated productive tax-paying Americans?


7 posted on 03/19/2010 10:27:23 AM PDT by petercooper (GOP: Big Tent Party??? Not if you are a CONSERVATIVE.)
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To: dalebert

As a white, you are “deemed” (pardon the expression) fully capable of earning the money to acquire your own broadband, housing, food, childcare, etc. In fact, as a white, you automatically have too much and must have the excess redistributed to a worthy minority, up to and including illegals. In the near future, prepare to learn that you are utilising too much living space in your home for you and your family and make room for the “comrades” to whom the government will redistribute the excess.


8 posted on 03/19/2010 10:28:34 AM PDT by mrsmel
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To: reaganaut1
Too many (blacks) have to rely on libraries

This is somewhat true. Although I would strike the phrase "have to" and substitute "choose to" You should see the clothes and nails of the black females hogging the internet at my local library. One thing that I have almost NEVER seen blacks do in the library is read books.

9 posted on 03/19/2010 10:29:05 AM PDT by from occupied ga (Your most dangerous enemy is your own government,)
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To: reaganaut1

10 posted on 03/19/2010 10:31:48 AM PDT by NMEwithin
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To: reaganaut1

What a load.Anyone that works for a living is able to afford the requisite equipment to get on the Internet today.It’s much cheaper now than it was in 2000.

I just hope when I need a new car the government provides me with that Porche 911 Turbo Carrera I’ve been longing for for all these years.


11 posted on 03/19/2010 10:32:41 AM PDT by puppypusher
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To: reaganaut1

Gitmo suspects allowed laptops while in custody

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2474713/posts

And democraps demand free interet access for terrorists ,too!


12 posted on 03/19/2010 10:32:43 AM PDT by WOBBLY BOB (ACORN:American Corruption for Obama Right Now)
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To: from occupied ga

They will soon be SOL in Mecklenburg County, NC. They are closing all library branches because they have already given away too many tax dollars to non producers.


13 posted on 03/19/2010 10:32:46 AM PDT by csmusaret (Sarah Palin thinks everyday in America is the 4th of July. Obama thinks it is April 15th.)
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To: reaganaut1
When government becomes a means to enslave one race to support another, it becomes illegitimate. That was true in 1860, and it is becoming true again.

Yes (unless you are talking about making the poor, pale devils do all the involuntary servitude... that is apparently okay).

Mr. niteowl77

14 posted on 03/19/2010 10:33:38 AM PDT by niteowl77 (You wanted him, and now you have got him. I say, "Good day to you," America.)
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To: mrsmel

but some of my ancestors were indentures(slaves) and i know for sure some were slaves of another tribe...dont i qualify for some free programs...afterall ...its just skin pigment?


15 posted on 03/19/2010 10:34:39 AM PDT by dalebert
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To: reaganaut1
What's more, it wouldn't cost taxpayers a dime.

Now Jessie is doing stand-up comedy.

16 posted on 03/19/2010 10:34:39 AM PDT by umgud (I couldn't understand why the ball kept getting bigger......... then it hit me.)
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To: reaganaut1

Dial-up is still $10 or less and if you are a casual user then it’s good enuff.


17 posted on 03/19/2010 10:35:10 AM PDT by dennisw (It all comes 'round again --Fairport)
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To: reaganaut1

I am so sick and tired of this sh*t.


18 posted on 03/19/2010 10:35:17 AM PDT by placerville
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To: reaganaut1
require that the winner provide a free tier of broadband service nationwide

Useless unless you also give away computers.

19 posted on 03/19/2010 10:36:12 AM PDT by grobdriver (Proud Member, Party Of No! No Socialism - No Fascism - Nobama - No Way!)
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To: reaganaut1

Its a terrible choice that people out there have to make: broadband or HD TV, they can’t afford both. It seems that these poor people are all opting for HD TV. Oh, the humanity.


20 posted on 03/19/2010 10:36:42 AM PDT by centurion316
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