Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Telcos Want Big Subsidies, Not Line-Sharing

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the give-us-money-and-leave-us-alone dept.

It seems that a recent survey of global broadband practices by Harvard's Berkman Center at the behest of the FCC has stirred the telecommunications hornet's nest. Both AT&T and Verizon are up in arms about some of the conclusions (except the ones that suggest offering large direct public subsidies). "Harvard's Berkman Center study of global broadband practices, produced at the FCC's request, is an 'embarrassingly slanted econometric analysis that violates professional statistical standards and is insufficiently reliable to provide meaningful guidance,' declares AT&T. The study does nothing but promote the lead author's 'own extreme views,' warns a response from Verizon Wireless. Most importantly, it 'should not be relied upon by the FCC in formulating a National Broadband Plan,' concludes the United States Telecom Association. Reviewing the slew of criticisms, Berkman's blog wryly notes that the report seems to have been 'a mini stimulus act for telecommunications lawyers and consultants.'"

3 of 340 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Isn't bread and circuses by commodore64_love · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Try:

    Bread == Food stamps, free healthcare
    & Circuses == Free or subsidized television and internet

    "Gotta keep those voters supporting me by giving them free stuff. So what if I have to steal money from the productive working middle class?" - typical politician. It's pretty sad that WE (yes you too) are expected to keep working while the government sucks ~$35,000* from our pockets every year to give it to somebody else who doesn't want to work. That's like buying a new Lexus ever year, and giving it some stranger.

    *
    * Assuming you have a $100,000 a year job

    --
    "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
  2. Re:I see what they did there... by cdrguru · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Sure you do. Now, just as a reality check, ask your employer how much they pay in Unemployment Insurance. 4% of payroll? Or more? OK, so maybe the employee isn't paying for all of it.

    Now look around a bit more. Arizona got federal funds to extend unemployment because the state fund was running dry. This means the money now isn't coming from either in-state employees or in-state employers but from the Federal Government tax revenue.

    Unemployment didn't use to be so much "welfare", but it is moving more and more towards being something that everyone else pays and a few just get. And keep on getting and getting and getting.

  3. Re:Isn't bread and circuses by ericrost · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Oh just go buy your own island you fuckwit, you're too antisocial to have most of us even want your redneck mountain man ass around.

    --
    My Babylon