Battle for Affordable Internet: ISPs Pushing for Price Hikes on Low-Income Broadband

A groundbreaking initiative by the government aims to incentivize Internet service providers (ISPs) to offer⁢ discounted rates to customers with lower incomes. This initiative involves the ‍allocation of federal funds through states. However, there is resistance from ⁣ISPs who are hesitant to comply ‌with ⁤the proposed pricing.

Recently, Ars Technica reported⁣ on a‌ letter addressed to US⁢ Commerce Secretary Gina⁣ Raimondo, signed by more than ‍30 broadband industry trade groups such as ACA Connects and the Fiber Broadband Association, along with ‍various state-based ⁣organizations. The letter ⁤expresses concerns ‍about the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment ⁢(BEAD) ⁢program, highlighting the challenges⁣ faced by ISPs in participating.‌ The BEAD program,‍ which has been newly established, allocates‍ over $42 billion in federal funds to enhance high-speed internet access through planning, infrastructure development, deployment, and adoption initiatives in states nationwide, as outlined ⁢by⁣ the National Telecommunications and Information Administration‍ (NTIA).

Initially, ⁤the funds are ‌channeled‍ to the NTIA before being distributed‍ to…

2024-07-26 ⁢17:06:20
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