FCC proposing monthly broadband subsidies for low-income households

fracking4oil said:

Give me a company in my area that has reliable $9.25 broadband and I'll drop my $60 broadband right now.

Do you have AT&T? They have it around $25.00 plus you pay around $100 dollar for the modem, prices and plan may not be available in all areas. I am not recommend At&t. It just might fit some people budgets. 150 to 250 gb data cap depending on whether it is dsl or universe. Caps may have increased since the last time I checked. There speed may be lower.

I have ATT (was Bell South) and pay around $35 per month including my phone bill. And I have my own modem. And that is in Florida. In Germany I pay 16 Euros per month. Normally appr. 23 Euros including the phone.

I live in a area where I'm very limited to access providers.
1. Dial-up over old copper lines. (very slow and unreliable)
2. My AT&T Mobile access. (limited to the amount of data I can use)
3. Satellite. (Last time I look it was very expensive)
4. Comcast (very fast and reliable. included with my Triple Play plan.
I chose Comcast because it's the best option I have. I only use my AT&T data plan when I have to.

Many countries (in Europe anyway) see internet access as a human right. Both in Hungary and France I know from experience that you can get cheaper internet if your income is very low for whatever reason. In some other countries (Lithuania I think but I never lived there) it is free.

I don't mean to start any political debate but it seems a nice idea to me.

At the moment I pay €22 a month for unlimited fibre (including free VIOP phone and TV) which is OK for me. Seems it is really expensive in the US - I guess because it is so big and the infrastructure cost would be huge.

BunnyJ said:

And given the services that are now available on the net it makes it easier for people to get things done.. gov paperwork etc.

Exactly so Sir - I wish I could give you a thumbs up for that..

Again I don't know about the US but here in Europe for many things (tax returns, residency permits) you are almost compelled to do on-line as turning up in person or sending a letter is at best impractical.

BunnyJ said:

You can do tax returns.. SS,. Medicare.. and state things like licenses. It's really convenient to the option of having to go to each state office to get the work done.

Well then (at the risk of sounding like a socialist) the poor, the disabled and aged (assuming they don't have enough money) should be given free internet.

Probably against forum rules to suggest such a thing but if the state insists on such a thing then it should be paid for.

My brother in law (who is unemployed) comes around only once a month so he can call the government to update his status as "still unemployed" as my phone is free for him.

I think I'm going off on a tangent though - free internet for everyone would be good. Apparently Finland was the first country to do that - Internet in Finland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia @Kari might know if it is true.

lx07 said:

Well then (at the risk of sounding like a socialist) the poor, the disabled and aged (assuming they don't have enough money) should be given free internet.

Probably against forum rules to suggest such a thing but if the state insists on such a thing then it should be paid for.

My brother in law (who is unemployed) comes around only once a month so he can call the government to update his status as "still unemployed" as my phone is free for him.

I think I'm going off on a tangent though - free internet for everyone would be good. Apparently Finland was the first country to do that - Internet in Finland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia @Kari might know if it is true.

The states don't insist on this. It is a choice. I'm not sure about renewing drivers license online. I know to renew my drivers license I need at least one primary document, at least one secondary document, a verifiable Social Security number, proof of address and a occasional updated photo for my license. Not the same thing but the federal government does insist on direct deposit instead of mailing checks. I'm not sure if this includes tax refunds because I haven't had a tax refund in years.