Analysis of broadband affordability deemed “extraneous” by FCC chair.

The Federal Communications Commission is ditching Biden-era standards for measuring progress toward the goal of universal broadband deployment.

The changes will make it easier for the FCC to give the broadband industry a passing grade in an annual progress report. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s proposal would give the industry a thumbs-up even if it falls short of 100 percent deployment, eliminate a long-term goal of gigabit broadband speeds, and abandon a new effort to track the affordability of broadband.

Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act requires the FCC to determine whether broadband is being deployed “on a reasonable and timely basis” to all Americans. If the answer is no, the US law says the FCC must “take immediate action to accelerate deployment of such capability by removing barriers to infrastructure investment and by promoting competition in the telecommunications market.”

  • witten@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    The difference is Musk: 1. Actively funded and orchestrated fascism, ruthlessly cutting government services such that an estimated 14 million people (including 4.5 million children under 5) will die in the next five years due to USAID cuts alone, 2. Is continuing to fund and orchestrate fascism in the form of his new political party, and, 3. Is a Nazi.

    So, yeah, fuck Musk and fuck Starlink. I don’t care how great the product is if it funds Musk’s fascism. (And yes, the majority of his wealth comes from Starlink and Tesla.)

    • Tempus Fugit@midwest.social
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      2 days ago

      Say what you will about Musk, and he is an irredeemable piece of trash, but at least he’s open about it. I’d much rather have my Nazis out in the open for the world to see. The CEOs of mega corps/elites are the real enemy, which Musk is one.

      • witten@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        I guess I draw a distinction between CEOs price gouging on cable internet access and CEOs destroying social safety nets and social-murdering babies.