FCC eyes tax on Internet service

[OverVolt]

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/245479-fcc-eyes-tax-on-internet-service

Yes, this is from drudge.

The move would funnel money to the Connect America Fund, a subsidy the agency created last year to expand Internet access.

I just want to know what people don't understand about how increasing the cost of broadband, via a tax, will only reduce peoples access to broadband, not increase it. It would be more expensive for the majority - duh.

 

[IronWing]

Yea! More transfer payments from urbanites to rural folks. More handouts to support inefficient lifestyle choices. If you move to the country don't expect urban amenities.

 

[dmcowen674]

FCC eyes tax on Internet service

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/245479-fcc-eyes-tax-on-internet-service

Yes, this is from drudge.

I just want to know what people don't understand about how increasing the cost of broadband, via a tax, will only reduce peoples access to broadband, not increase it. It would be more expensive for the majority - duh.

Actually this is a good thing.

The more taxes the better to get people motivated against the out of control spending and taxation.

There needs to be another shot heard around the world.

The only way to hear it again is more and more taxation and freedom robbing laws.

Keep it up Politicians :thumbsup:

 

[her209]

This is already being done via a tax on cell service.

 

[a777pilot]

I am for any and all tax reductions at any time. This internet tax is just plain stupid.

 

[dmcowen674]

This is already being done via a tax on cell service.

We must have taxes on top of taxes, it is the American way.

Bend over, no lube for you.

 

[Lithium381]

i thought greed was the american way, dave

 

[MovingTarget]

Yea! More transfer payments from urbanites to rural folks. More handouts to support inefficient lifestyle choices. If you move to the country don't expect urban amenities.

Are you from the 1930s? Geographical expansion of utilities, even those that connect you to the internet, is a good thing from an economic standpoint. Those in rural areas don't expect fiber and 1Gbps on their doorstep, just basic broadband service. Quite a few people and businesses are stuck on dialup-only infrastructure.

Disclaimer: This depends of course in the program being set up and run properly. I have not looked into the specifics of this scheme just yet, so I cannot endorse it specifically.

 

[herm0016]

Yea! More transfer payments from urbanites to rural folks. More handouts to support inefficient lifestyle choices. If you move to the country don't expect urban amenities.

so what you are telling me is that you do not like it when people work to produce things like, food, oil and natural gas, coal, phosphates, baking soda (which is mined near here in wyoming), copper, etc.... you should stop using all the things that support your "efficient" life style that are produced away from big cities.

 

[gevorg]

the ISPs will pass on 150% of the tax hike on consumers

 

[her209]

Are you from the 1930s? Geographical expansion of utilities, even those that connect you to the internet, is a good thing from an economic standpoint. Those in rural areas don't expect fiber and 1Gbps on their doorstep, just basic broadband service. Quite a few people and businesses are stuck on dialup-only infrastructure.

Disclaimer: This depends of course in the program being set up and run properly. I have not looked into the specifics of this scheme just yet, so I cannot endorse it specifically.

A study should be done to determine if a majority of these rural folks even own a computer and can afford the electricity to run it. Secondly, if they are too poor, should the federal government step in and subsidize one for them?

 

[DrPizza]

Yea! More transfer payments from urbanites to rural folks. More handouts to support inefficient lifestyle choices. If you move to the country don't expect urban amenities.

If it wasn't for farmers, you would starve to death. That's a simple fact. Farming can't exist in a vacuum - there are communities built up in farming areas. Do you feel that you get to say "tough shit little 4th grader - you deserve an inferior education because your family chose to live in a more rural area."

Education is becoming ever more reliant on access to broadband. If you want a system where urban communities are supported by rural communities, then you need to support that system; not just the parts you prefer.

 

[DucatiMonster696]

i thought greed was the american way, dave

Dave has long ago established a predefined and set in stone list on who can be "greedy", who is 'greedy", and who cannot be "greedy". In addition he has specified a exact pricing point where one can be deemed automatically to be "greedy" once they have pass the thresh-hold of Dave's "Greed-o-meter" (patent pending).

However he has a tough time distinguishing between and understanding actual "greed", self-interest, and ambition and how these traits (and other human traits) can often bleed over, interact act and can often mask each other's intentions due to circumstances and events.

 

[her209]

If it wasn't for farmers, you would starve to death. That's a simple fact. Farming can't exist in a vacuum - there are communities built up in farming areas. Do you feel that you get to say "tough shit little 4th grader - you deserve an inferior education because your family chose to live in a more rural area."

Education is becoming ever more reliant on access to broadband.

Why can't farmers send their kids to boarding school?

 

[IronWing]

If it wasn't for farmers, you would starve to death. That's a simple fact. Farming can't exist in a vacuum - there are communities built up in farming areas. Do you feel that you get to say "tough shit little 4th grader - you deserve an inferior education because your family chose to live in a more rural area."

Education is becoming ever more reliant on access to broadband. If you want a system where urban communities are supported by rural communities, then you need to support that system; not just the parts you prefer.

It's a simple fact that urbanites pay for that food, on top of the farm subsidies we pay for. The majority of folks living in rural and small town America are not farmers.

 

[IronWing]

so what you are telling me is that you do not like it when people work to produce things like, food, oil and natural gas, coal, phosphates, baking soda (which is mined near here in wyoming), copper, etc.... you should stop using all the things that support your "efficient" life style that are produced away from big cities.

Urbanites pay for those things. That is how the system works. We don't owe you subsidized internet.

 

[MovingTarget]

Urbanites pay for those things. That is how the system works. We don't owe you subsidized internet.

The same arguments were used and proven wrong in the 20th century with electricity and phone service. Todays infrastructure subsidies in rural areas are tomorrow's growth avenues.

 

[MovingTarget]

A study should be done to determine if a majority of these rural folks even own a computer and can afford the electricity to run it. Secondly, if they are too poor, should the federal government step in and subsidize one for them?

Computers are dirt cheap (older units, anyway) and electricity is pretty damn near universal. Broadband still lags in many areas not due to the ability to pay teh same standard rates, but upon the service simply being available.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Doesn't the FCC USF (Universal Service Fund) goes towards this?

We need more municipal broadband projects, that the big ISPs fight tooth and nail to prevent.

Edit: Anyways, Verizon is moving away from their copper plant and services, and trying to force people onto WiMax/LTE, ostensibly so that they can charge them per-GB overages.

They could probably cut a deal with the gov't, claiming to be able to add X wireless broadband subscribers for Y amount of dollars from this fund. Getting revenue from the fund, as well as the subscribers. Personally, I would find that dirty. Private industry should want to fund expansion, not only when there are gov't handouts to be had.

 

[Anarchist420]

I heard about something awhile ago that would make it easier for the end-user to be their own ISP... so this is just welfare for the ISPs like ac power would turn out to be for the utility companies.

The govts have been doing nothing but getting in the way of progress.

 

[DrPizza]

Urbanites pay for those things. That is how the system works. We don't owe you subsidized internet.

Okay, we'll add a tax to all those things to help maintain the infrastructure necessary to bring those things to you.

 

[BoberFett]

The same arguments were used and proven wrong in the 20th century with electricity and phone service. Todays infrastructure subsidies in rural areas are tomorrow's growth avenues.

Actually, yesterday's infrastructure in rural areas became today's suburban sprawl as farmland was sold to developers.

 

[BoberFett]

Okay, we'll add a tax to all those things to help maintain the infrastructure necessary to bring those things to you.

That would be preferable. Then the cost is built in for those that use more. Rather than charging people who use the internet but are otherwise completely unrelated because let's face it, not everybody who lives in the sticks is there because they're farmers. I know plenty of people who live in the boondocks because it let them build twice as big a house for the same price as one in town, and now they commute 50 miles each way in a Chevy Suburban, sucking down gas like it was water.

So rather than hide the true costs of our food (which by the way has it's own price supports in place, our markets are so fucked from interference...) increase the prices to those who purchase food from the farmers who require internet service. That's how markets work. Taxes and subsidization is just another form of externality.

 

[her209]

Okay, we'll add a tax to all those things to help maintain the infrastructure necessary to bring those things to you.

Not sure I'm following. Farmers and the farm industry aren't picking up a majority of the tab to build and maintain the infrastructure that gets their produce to where they are supposed to go.

 

[Texashiker]

I just want to know what people don't understand about how increasing the cost of broadband, via a tax, will only reduce peoples access to broadband, not increase it. It would be more expensive for the majority - duh.

You need to pay more taxes so people like me can get DSL.

Whats sad, is how the US is falling behind in basic services like internet service. Why aren't companies like AT&T upgrading their lines to provide DSL?

If it wasn't for farmers, you would starve to death. That's a simple fact. Farming can't exist in a vacuum - there are communities built up in farming areas. Do you feel that you get to say "tough shit little 4th grader - you deserve an inferior education because your family chose to live in a more rural area."

Or, since you live in a city you do not get to eat.

Everyone knows you can not grow food in cement.

Not sure I'm following. Farmers and the farm industry aren't picking up a majority of the tab to build and maintain the infrastructure that gets their produce to where they are supposed to go.

Farmers are what make your food possible.

If you want food, why dont you move to the country and grow your own? Otherwise, starve.

From the OP,

Consumers already pay a fee on their landline and cellular phone bills to support the FCC's Universal Service Fund. The fund was created to ensure that everyone in the country has access to telephone service, even if they live in remote areas.

So how does that work? The FCC subsidizes phone lines the telephone company puts down?