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New US Broadband Projects Get $795 Million In Funding

Posted by Soulskill on from the take-that-finland dept.

snydeq writes "The Obama administration has announced nearly $795 million in grants and loans to 66 new broadband projects across the nation. The subsidies — to be doled out by the US NTIA and the US Rural Utilities Service — will bring broadband service to 685,000 businesses, 900 health-care facilities, and 2,400 schools, according to officials. The NTIA will award $404 million to 29 projects, and the grants will finance 6,000 miles of new fiber-optic lines. Most of the money will finance middle-mile broadband network projects. The RUS will award $390.9 million, with $163 million in loans and the rest in grants. Most of the RUS money is focused on last-mile broadband projects."

8 of 174 comments (clear)

  1. So how much of this will the telcos steal? by h4rr4r · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How much of this will end up in the pockets of a telco exec and leave us with nothing to show for it?

    You know like every other time we have given these bastards a dime.

    1. Re:So how much of this will the telcos steal? by boneclinkz · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You know like every other time we have given these bastards a dime.

      Seriously. I'm reminded of a pithy quote about the definition of "insanity."

    2. Re:So how much of this will the telcos steal? by h4rr4r · · Score: 4, Insightful

      ,No they promised unlimited but meant 250GB/month.

      So add liars to the list.

  2. Any penalties for failure to meet goals? by kcbnac · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Is there any penalty for the telcos (such that they have to pay this money back, with penalties) if they fail to meet the goals this time around?

    Last time we gave them money we didn't get what we paid for, and they just shrugged their shoulders.

    Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice... and I'm tempted to steal a quote from someone else.

    "It's Tuesday, get a rope!"

  3. Re:New Deal 2K10 by timeOday · · Score: 4, Informative

    Yeah right. The tens of thousands of people who would otherwise have starved beg to differ. And we're still living off much of the infrastructure they built.

  4. Re:STOP SPENDING by h4rr4r · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Simple law
    No cable(wire, fiber) plant owner may operate an ISP nor video nor phone service provider or vice versa. All cable plant owners must provide access on a non-discriminatory basis.

  5. Re:New Deal 2K10 by gewalker · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The real trick is trying to figure out any policy difference between Hoover & FDR. An honest look at history (including several of FDR's advisor) admit the new deal was largely a continuation of the policies started by Hoover. FDR himself said that he would have voted for Hoover had he not gotten the nomination.

  6. Intellectual prostitution must pay pretty well... by copponex · · Score: 4, Informative

    Nicely cherry picked data. I like how you conveniently left out that the top 10% have seen their income rise from $172,000 in 1980 to $339,000 in 2005 - that's a nice doubling of their income. The top 1% did even better - from $517,000 in 1980 to $1,558,000 in 2005. That seems like pretty good economic progress.

    And how did the middle class do? From $51,000 to $58,000. Lower Class? $34,000 to $37,000. Lowest Class? $15,700 to $15,900.

    So we know why the top 10% are paying all the taxes: they make all the money. And they pay lower tax rates! From 37% for the Top 1% to 31%, the top 5% from 31.8% to 28.9%.

    http://www.econdataus.com/efftax05.html