Let's see.

Post #331,873 by Another Scott 8/25/10 10:55:34 PM Reply	Let's see. What's the underlying context of this discussion? The National Broadband Plan - http://www.broadband...action-items.html Goal No. 1: At least 100 million U.S. homes should have affordable access to actual download speeds of at least 100 megabits per second and actual upload speeds of at least 50 megabits per second. Goal No. 2: The United States should lead the world in mobile innovation, with the fastest and most extensive wireless networks of any nation. Goal No. 3: Every American should have affordable access to robust broadband service, and the means and skills to subscribe if they so choose. Goal No. 4: Every community should have affordable access to at least 1 gigabit per second broadband service to anchor institutions such as schools, hospitals, and government buildings. Goal No. 5: To ensure the safety of American communities, every first responder should have access to a nationwide, wireless, interoperable broadband public safety network. Goal No. 6: To ensure that America leads in the clean energy economy, every American should be able to use broadband to track and manage their real-time energy consumption. What's the USF? http://www.usac.org/about/usac/ The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) is an independent, not-for-profit corporation designated as the administrator of the federal Universal Service Fund by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). USAC administers Universal Service Fund (USF) programs for high cost companies serving rural areas, low-income consumers, rural health care providers, and schools and libraries. The Universal Service Fund helps provide communities across the country with affordable telecommunications services. The Universal Service Fund is one fund with four programs. The four programs are: * High Cost - This support ensures that consumers in all regions of the nation have access to and pay rates for telecommunications services that are reasonably comparable to those in urban areas. * Low Income - This support, commonly known as Lifeline and Link Up, provides discounts that make basic, local telephone service affordable for more than 7 million low-income consumers. * Rural Health Care - This support provides reduced rates to rural health care providers for telecommunications and Internet services so they pay no more than their urban counterparts for the same or similar telecommunications services. * Schools & Libraries - This support, commonly referred to as E-rate support, provides affordable telecommunications and Internet access services to connect schools and libraries to the Internet. This support goes to service providers that provide discounts on eligible services to eligible schools, school districts, libraries, and consortia of these entities. High Cost and Low Income support is managed by the High Cost and Low Income Division (HCLID). Rural Health Care support is managed by the Rural Health Care Division (RHCD). Schools and Libraries support is managed by the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD). USAC has a diverse 19-member Board of Directors comprised of representatives of universal service stakeholders. What's USF reform? http://en.wikipedia....al_Service_reform Current debate over the Universal Service Fund currently involves the scope of the funding, which technology types and companies should fund the program, which groups should be eligible for benefits, and the need to clean up waste and fraud in the program. Changes in technology and the marketplace have led to the need for reform of USF. The development of new telecommunications technology is constant. Many of the services covered by the USF are related to traditional telephone technology. There is a rising concern that some of the more recent developments in telecommunications are just as important to the consumer as these older technologies. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 specifically states that "advanced services" should be accessible to all Americans [Section 254(b)(3)]. A question currently debated is whether access to broadband internet should be supported by the USF and if so, how best to fulfill such a large mandate without damaging the stability of the fund. What does it mean? Well, since the FCC is pushing a mandate to expand broadband across the country to as much of the population as possible, it seems to me that the USF fits into that. Reform of the USF fits into that. It's not about TAXes. Its about expanding service and making sure that service is open. HTH. Cheers, Scott.
Post #331,876 by boxley 8/25/10 11:02:55 PM Reply	Re: Let's see. i would be satisfied that every household have reasonable access to food and water, we aint there yet. Socialist much? Any opinions expressed by me are mine alone, posted from my home computer, on my own time as a free American and do not reflect the opinions of any person or company that I have had professional relations with in the past 55 years. meep
Post #331,878 by Another Scott 8/25/10 11:30:21 PM Reply	...
Post #332,595 by CRConrad 9/15/10 11:11:59 AM Reply	So you're in favour of letting people starve to death? Because not to do so would be "socialist". (If that's not how to read what you wrote, then what is?) You do realise, I hope, that the opposite of "socialist", in that case, seems to be "utter arsehole". But the Other Scott of course said all that so much more elegantly than I... Because all the above is exactly what his "..." meant, I am willing to wager. And to think I accused poor BeeP of being a Rush-head...!
Post #332,601 by boxley 9/15/10 12:42:45 PM 9/15/10 12:43:09 PM Reply	point=missed I am concerned that people have access to adequate food and water, in america some people do go to bed hungry (if they have a bed) Scott is concerned that these hungry people get broadband. Unca Joe Steele was a socialist, he loved them kulaks Any opinions expressed by me are mine alone, posted from my home computer, on my own time as a free American and do not reflect the opinions of any person or company that I have had professional relations with in the past 55 years. meep Edited by boxley Sept. 15, 2010, 12:43:09 PM EDT Expand All History
Post #332,610 by Ashton 9/15/10 4:19:35 PM Reply	Considering that you are {unnaturally!} oft better-informed about the hysterical soap opera which Murican 'politics' always is: I doubt that you are surprised that our 'Social Security' ... ie. the very Idea that there should Be Such a Thing -- is currently under attack by various reactionary groupings (merely for having the concept 'social' anywhere around it.) And such fulminations are (see Russ Feingold matters) successfully beating-out re-electable long-time non-lunatic seat holders, in preparation for the verbal diarrhea to accompany {{shudder}} the little dances to be held in November. Now I know what you're thinking: IF'n 'They' replace living-breathing humans with such pod-people droids, aren't they Shooting-in-gonads -- the Party (they have devoured into irrelevance) -- to the benefit of the Opposition? Yeah, one might think so, but this be Murica 2010. (Let the shuddering commence early, so those muscles will be strong enough to bear the November Shudders in all sentient onlookers.) Carrion PS -- welcome back from the Void! I could almost see voting for Palin in 2012 on the grounds that this sorry ratfucking excuse for a republic, this savage, smirking, predatory empire deserves her. Bring on the Rapture, motherfuckers! -- via RC
Post #331,881 by drook 8/26/10 2:35:40 AM Reply	Let's see, part B The Telecommunications Act of 1996 specifically states that "advanced services" should be accessible to all Americans The reasoning in Brand X explicitly held that cable internet was an "information service" and not a "telecommunications service" because "advanced services" == "information services". So if cable is an "advanced service", that's exactly what the USF is supposed to be providing. -- Drew
Post #331,886 by beepster 8/26/10 7:46:02 AM Reply	So who will pay to run cable to the guy 100 miles up in the Rockies? And the USF used to be only about telephone. scope and tax creep. Sure, understanding today's complex world of the future is a little like having bees live in your head. But...there they are.
Post #331,896 by boxley 8/26/10 10:49:50 AM Reply	you already did, part of the stimulus package Any opinions expressed by me are mine alone, posted from my home computer, on my own time as a free American and do not reflect the opinions of any person or company that I have had professional relations with in the past 55 years. meep
Post #331,911 by beepster 8/26/10 4:30:19 PM Reply	But I also pay every month on my land line bill. Paid also when I had the second line on VOIP. Nothing to do with stimulus. Now they want to hit me again, apparently, every month on my internet bill. Sure, understanding today's complex world of the future is a little like having bees live in your head. But...there they are.
Post #332,609 by Ashton 9/15/10 4:06:23 PM Reply	Poor beepster ... could your taxes be so onerous because your income is so high? Shed some of that pork and you too can be (almost) Tax-free. (Hey.. works for me.) :-0 I could almost see voting for Palin in 2012 on the grounds that this sorry ratfucking excuse for a republic, this savage, smirking, predatory empire deserves her. Bring on the Rapture, motherfuckers! -- via RC
Post #332,611 by beepster 9/15/10 4:23:01 PM Reply	bwah ha ha thats funny Sure, understanding today's complex world of the future is a little like having bees live in your head. But...there they are.

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