Does anyone know how the Rural Broad Band thing will work?

[multigraincracker]

Only because I live on a State Highway do I have high speed service, but it ain't cheap. I'd trade some of that speed for less expensive service.
If Verizon had a closer tower I could just use "hot spot" on my phone for free service. Now I have to use wifi to use my phone.

[CentralMass]

1. My cynicism yell m ed that th ed redstates will pilfer the funding

and favor republican voting areas when the implement it

[Pinback]

7. Sen. Murray's Digital Equity Act is supposed to help address this concern.

From the NY Times: Broadband in the infrastructure bill: Taking aim at the digital divide, 8/2/2021 - behind a paywall, but I've extracted the key info here:

Democrats also fought to secure the inclusion of the Digital Equity Act, legislation drafted by Senator Patty Murray, Democrat of Washington, to encourage states to develop comprehensive plans to ensure access to high-speed internet is distributed equitably among traditionally underserved groups and educate them about how to access digital resources.

The bill also sets aside special funds for the Appalachian Regional Commission, a federal economic development body co-chaired by Gayle Manchin, the wife of Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, one of the bill’s principal authors and a key Democratic swing vote.

Note to legislators: To get Manchin's support, always remember to include something that provides direct financial benefit to him or a member of his family.

[samnsara]

2. im deep inna canyon where everyone streams 24/7....its getting kinda crowded.

[Pinback]

3. This article has some info that may be useful:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/how-the-infrastructure-bill-s-65-billion-in-broadband-spending-will-be-doled-out/ar-AAQsWy8

This promises to be a gigantic windfall for telecom and tech companies — which I’m sure is one of the reasons some Republicans in Congress joined with Democrats to support the bill.

It remains to be seen how long it will take to build out this infrastructure, to what extent Republican state governments are able to hamstring the process (or warp it to screw minority communities), etc. But it’s a promising program. Hope it will help you get broadband access in the not-too-distant future.

[durablend]

4. Are there stipulations that they actually have to use it?

Or just a wink and a nod from them that the money will be put towards what it's intended for?

[Pinback]

5. I assume you mean the states.

No idea. I’m certainly no expert — I just posted an article I found.

As we’ve seen with Medicaid expansion, some governors and legislators will try to deny benefits that cost the state NOTHING a) to take a win away from Democrats and b) hurt minority (Democratic-leaning) communities within their state. Reminder: Republicans suck.

I hope lawmakers foresaw this possibility and have included some safeguards. Maybe somebody with more knowledge of this bill can shed light on this concern.

[Pinback]

8. Update - see post #7. (nt)

[multigraincracker]

6. Thanks, lots of good info.

As I live on an Indian Reservation, it might help.

The Tribe seems to give more to the local community, including non member like me. On my side of the highway, we get the award winning Tribal fire dept. On the other side they get the much slower township dept. Tribal police seem great to me. If you get a ticket you go to tribal court. I also get to, and have to have a Tribal library card that is good for the whole county. The casino brings in lots of business for everyone.
There might be something in there that might help me some.

[Mr.Bill]

9. The cynic in me says

your tax dollars will build broadband infrastructure that will then be gifted to huge corporations that will proceed to charge you $50+ a month to have high-speed internet in your house.