$6 billion for the Internet?

US House committee thinks they have a good idea

[weeks]

The House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday approved rules for billions in government funds to spur high-speed Internet networks in unserved and underserved areas. ...

But, they really don't know who needs it.

...Federal Communications Commission (will) revise its definitions of "unserved" and "underserved" once the Internet mapping project is completed. Without better information about Internet availability in specific areas, Mr. Stupak said the grants will be given in the same haphazard manner as in the past. Earlier grants "quite honestly, have been based on political influence and earmarks," he said.

If we're at this point in the discussion, shouldn't we know WHERE we're talking about?

Here's the entire story...
[online.wsj.com...]

[edited by: phranque at 4:56 am (utc) on Jan. 23, 2009]

[HugeNerd]

If we're at this point in the discussion, shouldn't we know WHERE we're talking about?

If they operated in the private sector, yes. However, living on their Hill and being isolated in their magical little world, such pithy details are beneath them -- they've got the money to spend, hang all the rest.

Just show me the line to queue in for the cash, as I'm completely undeserved...errrr...underserved.

[wrgvt]

I live in one of those unserved areas of the country. No cell phone service, no cable, no DSL, no FIOS, etc. It comes close to us, but they refuse to extend it out to our neck of the woods. We're getting ready to go with a satellite solution for broadband.

My wife gets upset with the local phone company. We get a steady stream of mail from them asking if we'd like high speed internet. She calls them and says "YES!" and then they tell her they have no plans for our town yet. She tends to get upset and tells them to stop sending us the mail then. But it still comes.

It's one of the things you come to expect when you choose a rural lifestyle. Forget pizza delivery too. Go up my road about another half mile past my house and you can't even get electricity. There are several houses off-grid. Go a little farther than that and even the snow plow doesn't try.

It's just a bit frustrating listening to companies and politicians talk about bringing broadband access to all areas when they know it's not going to happen. How do you know when a politician's lying? His lips are moving.

[BradleyT]

CTIA said carriers will be reluctant to apply for the grants if they are uncertain of their open access obligations.

If by that they mean "salivating at the mouth to get grant money" then I agree.

[edited by: BradleyT at 6:58 pm (utc) on Jan. 23, 2009]