Republicans slam broadband discounts for poor people, threaten to kill program::Thune, Cruz complain that $30 discounts go to people who “already had broadband.”

  • KitDeMadera@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    The problem with this kind of thinking is that the the private sector wants to extract the maximum profits possible.

    Over time it has become clear that this does not lead to efficiency and low prices. Instead it leads to efficiency and higher prices and higher profits.

    Services for the public good should not be profit centers. If you can’t see that from US health care and Texas power utilities, then I don’t even know what to say anymore.

    • BitWzrd@infosec.pub
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      7 months ago

      As a Texan, I 100% assure you that I fully understand the ramifications of commoditizing public services. I was cold with the rest of them, while Can-cruz was slipping away to vacation.

      I just think that placing the federal government in charge of building, maintaining, and upgrading internet infrastructure would have lasting negative ramifications in just about every way.

      The though above (in a sister comment to the one i replied to) about regulations requiring an affordable option (maybe one that could be further subsidized for parents with school age children, etc) is much more palatable to me.

      • Johnmannesca@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        have you looked into Calyx? They have a pricing model that costs less because they are a 501c3 nonprofit