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Obama Seeks Broadband for 20 Million More Low-Income Subscribers
New York Times ^ | March 9, 2016 | Cecilia Kang

Posted on 03/09/2016 12:15:15 PM PST by reaganaut1

WASHINGTON — President Obama, backing a plan to connect low-income families to more affordable broadband services, on Wednesday set a goal to get 20 million people subscribed to high-speed Internet by 2020.

In a Facebook post, Mr. Obama said a lack of broadband at home took a particularly harsh toll on students caught in a “homework gap,” unable to complete school assignments because the work requires access to the web.

“All of America’s students should be able to get online, no matter where they live or how much their parents make,” Mr. Obama wrote. “We’re calling this effort ConnectAll — and it’s not just good for students, it’s good for folks looking for jobs or workers hoping to learn new skills.”

The White House also released a report outlining the economic effects of broadband adoption, focused on how families without broadband at home are at a disadvantage in finding jobs. Job seekers who search online find employment 25 percent faster than those who use traditional methods like newspaper classifieds, according to a report released by the Council of Economic Advisers.

The announcement underscores the government’s view of high-speed Internet as a utility that should be regulated like water and power and should be extended to all residents. The White House has pushed for more affordable broadband with its ConnectHome initiative, announced last July, to put affordable broadband services in public housing. Mr. Obama in late 2014 urged the Federal Communications Commission to classify broadband services as utilities, a view fiercely opposed by telecom service providers.

The White House on Wednesday also said it would support the F.C.C.’s proposal to reform its Lifeline phone program. That effort, announced earlier this week, will give low-income homes a $9.25 monthly subsidy for wireless and fixed broadband services.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: obamanet
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To: Sacajaweau
In Rochester NY ... They don't do their homework anyways.
Hell, they don't even go to school long enough to get homework. I think the truancy rate is about 31%.
Good factual read, albeit a little long, on the state of Rochester city schools. Not surprisingly, the author blames the city and the school system. Oy.
21 posted on 03/09/2016 12:36:29 PM PST by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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To: reaganaut1

Get a better effin job you scumbags.


22 posted on 03/09/2016 12:36:55 PM PST by Resolute Conservative
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To: reaganaut1

The net will be controlled worse than Chinese internet by our masters.


23 posted on 03/09/2016 12:37:40 PM PST by ColdOne (I miss my poochie... Tasha 2000~3/14/11 HillaryForPrison2016)
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To: grobdriver

Gee I was able to graduate HS and get two college degrees (one in computer science) and never heard of the internet. I lived in the library.


24 posted on 03/09/2016 12:38:34 PM PST by Resolute Conservative
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To: reaganaut1

They can go to the library. I know books are kryptonite to these people per Chris Rock....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvM81TNUHRE


25 posted on 03/09/2016 12:39:04 PM PST by Trumpinator ("Are you Batman?" the boy asked. "I am Batman," Trump said.)
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To: reaganaut1

Just a matter of time before Atlas shrugs...and the gimme dats can then figure out how to feed themselves....My father said along time ago....”democrats are just no dam good”


26 posted on 03/09/2016 12:40:37 PM PST by An Independant Cuss
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To: reaganaut1

Yoohoo government money wasters-I live in a remote rural area where there are not many people-the nearest broadband is nearly 30 miles away, in the nearest “town” of less than 1000. There are no plans for broadband out here in the foreseeable future-so SAT internet is the only game in town-we are all working people out here-bring us broadband-we even have money to pay for it...

If y’all just have to spend money, then spend it on those of us you stole it from in the first place-not a bunch of welfare moochers...


27 posted on 03/09/2016 12:46:17 PM PST by Texan5 ("You've got to saddle up your boys, you've got to draw a hard line"...)
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To: reaganaut1; All

Thank you for referencing that article reaganaut1. Please bear in mind that the following critique is directed at the article and not at you.

The states have never delegated to the feds, expressly via the Constitution, the specific power to regulate, tax and spend for INTRAstate schooling purposes. So the corrupt House of Representatives should not be appropriating taxes for Obama’s broadband project (1.7.1).

Think of it this way. The unconstitutional taxes that the feds appropriate for things like broadband are arguably state revenues which the corrupt feds have stolen from the states. But if such revenues were to remain in the states then the states would be able to appropriate taxes to subsidize things like broadband for schooling purposes instead of relying on the corrupt feds for such vote-winning funding.

Remember in November !

When patriots elect Trump, Cruz, or whatever conservative they elect, they need to also elect a new, state sovereignty-respecting Congress that will not only work within its constitutional Article I, Section 8-limited powers to support the new president, but also protect the states from unconstitutional federal government overreach, including putting a stop to unconstitutional taxing and spending.

Also, consider that such a Congress would probably be willing to fire state sovereignty-ignoring activist justices.


28 posted on 03/09/2016 12:48:13 PM PST by Amendment10
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To: reaganaut1

Hopefully the po’ folks blessed with these wonderful gifts from yours, and my taxations will use the internet to find just how badly the Democrats have messed things up, and vote for anybody but a Democrat.

I can dream, and do it well.


29 posted on 03/09/2016 1:10:12 PM PST by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists Call 'em what you will, they all have fairies livin' in their trees.)
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To: reaganaut1

What is scarier is their vision of the net as a utility they can regulate.


30 posted on 03/09/2016 1:17:44 PM PST by Sam Gamgee (May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't. - Patton)
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To: Yo-Yo

I mean shite, how are poor kids suppose to get easy access to porn sites?


31 posted on 03/09/2016 1:18:16 PM PST by Sam Gamgee (May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't. - Patton)
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To: reaganaut1

Not sure why Obama is posing this as his idea ?

as a part of the merger between NBC and Comcast, Comcast was mandated to provide low cost service ($9.95) to the households of children who qualify for free school lunch programs. The size of this audience is estimated to be 20 million households.

http://business.time.com/2011/08/10/comcasts-internet-essentials-10-a-month-service-for-low-income-families/

What would make more sense is for seniors on social security to be given low cost internet - a large portion are shut-ins and internet would keep their minds active. And elderly with active minds are healthier. Currently the lowest plan for internet is $25/mo thru the cable carriers, but, you have to have cable so the effective price is $50/mo. Dial-up doesn’t work for seniors because some of them are on ‘life-line’ phone service and so are charged by the minute.


32 posted on 03/09/2016 1:25:39 PM PST by blueplum
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...
Best way to fund it? A revenue-neutral surcharge on users of Obamaphones.

33 posted on 03/09/2016 1:34:59 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Here's to the day the forensics people scrape what's left of Putin off the ceiling of his limo.)
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To: Sam Gamgee

Not to mention Tweets from Kanye West......


34 posted on 03/09/2016 1:38:54 PM PST by nascarnation (RIP Scalia. Godspeed)
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To: lacrew
More than a handout...a control play: “The announcement underscores the government’s view of high-speed Internet as a utility that should be regulated like water and power” First government makes it ‘essential’ Then they make it ‘pure’

Yeah, and next thing you know they're putting fluoride in our Internet. No thanks!

35 posted on 03/09/2016 1:42:05 PM PST by Disambiguator
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To: reaganaut1

obama as Karl Marx, seeking to send you yet another bill.


36 posted on 03/09/2016 1:57:39 PM PST by Jack Hammer (uff said.)
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37 posted on 03/09/2016 2:24:42 PM PST by DoughtyOne (Facing Trump nomination inevitability, folks are now openly trying to help Hillary destroy him.)
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To: IronJack
Maybe the schools should hand out assignments that DON'T require internet access.

Bingo! That's worked well for the past few centuries, with some pretty impressive results to boot. (You cannot make a diamond from dirt, no matter how much technology you apply.)

38 posted on 03/09/2016 2:29:49 PM PST by Moltke (Reasoning with a liberal is like watering a rock in the hope to grow a building)
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To: reaganaut1
>>More handouts from the leader of the handout party<<

Man oh man, I've been working since I wuz 15yrs old and would like to retire someday...not when I'm 70 freakin years old.

Stop spending...stop spending...stOP SPENDING!

39 posted on 03/09/2016 2:31:34 PM PST by servantboy777
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To: reaganaut1
More handouts from the leader of the handout party.

More handouts paid for with Other Peoples' Money. The Democrats are destroying America and the American economy by armed robbery and socialism.

40 posted on 03/09/2016 2:33:02 PM PST by NorthMountain (A plague o' both your houses.)
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