FCC Internet Grant Decision Riles Congress

museumpeace writes "The FCC, with no advance notice to congress, effectively made substantial cuts in the funding for the program that subsidizes provision of internet connection to libraries and poorer school systems. This was not small potatoes: 2.5 billion buys a lot of connection. [confess your real identity to them and the ] NYTimes will tell you all about the uproar. The ostensible cause according to FCC officials, who annoyed congressfolk by dodging the inquiry, was an attemp to control possible fraudulent spending in the program but FCC actions then went far beyond fiscal oversight. FCC deference to phone companies by way of reducing the amount they were required to contribute to the program has compounded its financial woes according to Technology Review which also covered the story. [and which will also require a "free" registration]"

Comments

good

[dh003i]

anytime anyone cuts back the public funding gravy train, it's a good thing. What makes Congressmen so high and mighty? The fact that a few people -- who's ability to choose what they really want has been eroded by Democrats and Republicans restricting political entry and monopolizing the market -- voted for them? So what. 9 people can get together and "vote" to murder the 10th person. Big deal. That hardly makes said act legal, just, and moral.