Court Blocks FCC's Attempt To Take a Broadband Subsidy Away From Tribal Areas (bleepingcomputer.com)

Jon Brodkin reports via Ars Technica: The FCC decision, originally slated to take effect later this year, would have made it difficult or impossible for Tribal residents to obtain a $25-per-month Lifeline subsidy that reduces the cost of Internet or phone service for poor people. But on Friday, a court stayed the FCC decision pending appeal, saying that Tribal organizations and small wireless carriers are likely to win their case against the commission. "Petitioners have demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits of their arguments that the facilities-based and rural areas limitations contained in the Order are arbitrary and capricious," said the stay order issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. "In particular, petitioners contend that the Federal Communications Commission failed to account for a lack of alternative service providers for many tribal customers."

The tribes and small carriers that sued the FCC "have shown a substantial risk that tribal populations will suffer widespread loss of vital telecommunications services absent a stay," the court said. The FCC hasn't proven that its plan won't result in "mass disconnection," the court also said. The court ruling was welcomed by the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe and Oceti Sakowin Tribal Utility Authority, which are among the groups suing the FCC. Several small carriers and the non-profit National Lifeline Association are also plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

Comments

Smallpox, Measles, Influenza, Wampum

[PopeRatzo]

We took their country. They least we can do is pay for their fucking broadband.

Two ideologies at battle

[rsilvergun]

on the one hand the Republican party really wants to stick it to the poors, especially if they're also colored. Stuff like this is basically fodder for the far right of the base. On the other hand there's corporate subsidies at stake. It's funny to watch the two fight it out until you think about all the completely screwed over people caught in the middle (source: been on the Res, got India friends, and that Casino money hasn't made it all over. Lots of blasted out trailer parks held together by spit and glue).

What do you call...

[drinkypoo]

What do you call the useless bit of skin at the base of the penis? Ajit Pai's feet.

Re:Tribe's don't deserve subsidies

[bill_mcgonigle]

I'm somewhat sympathetic to your argument, but the fact is that they're not treated as sovereign.

Look, I think they should be able to have high-rise casinos with hookers and blow on tap if they want, but the reality is they can't.

Free them economically *and* take away their subsidies, if they are to be sovereign. That's much better than repressing them and subsidizing them.

But don't make the mistake of assuming that their sovereignty is being more than respected as a token effort. Or that DC actually wants to treat them as sovereign and not a conquered people.

Dude I'm a Bernie Bro

[rsilvergun]

I've got policy coming out my ears. Medicare for All, College for All, Ending the Wars, New New Deal, etc, etc, etc. I don't want or need race to win elections. Polls show my policy is overwhelmingly popular. Like, 70-80% popular.

What I need is to get those folks who voted for Trump because of crap like this and folks who wrongly blame the jews for the raw deal the 1%ers handed them to realize who's really pulling the strings and stop voting against their own interests. It's damn hard to do since the 1%ers own the mass media (mega corps bought everything up, re: Sinclair Media).

Ignoring the impact of racism on American politics isn't naive or foolish, it's deceitful. The Republicans do it so they can dog whistle. There's corportists Dems who do it so they can run on something besides economics since they're basically Republicans when it comes to money. You need to call both groups out because they're doing the same damn thing: Using race to distract from a bad economy. Bernie understands that. So does Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. That's why they never takes the bait. You shouldn't either. Even when you're trolling on /. If you've got to troll, troll for the good guys.