• WatDabney@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    22 hours ago

    It sucks to even be in partial agreement with the broligarchs, but as a rural American, I have zero sympathy for this fuckhead or anyone else involved in the broadband fund.

    The government has been pouring money into broadband expansion for decades, and for decades, internet providers have been sopping up that money while doing exactly nothing to actually earn it.

    • NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world
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      22 hours ago

      I mean, we could tell them to pay back the money, or force them to make upgrades. But, its easier to just award contracts to starlink.

      • SinningStromgald@lemmy.world
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        21 hours ago

        We certainly can’t make them pay the money back. That could affect executive bonuses and stock plans as well corporate stock buybacks to drive up stock prices! Won’t you think of the executives! /s

    • RaoulDook@lemmy.world
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      21 hours ago

      It’s not all a story of failure, because there are numerous rural areas that have fiber now that did not before those programs. Some states have added on programs that boost the fiber adoption, like letting local phone and power companies roll out fiber on utility poles along the power lines. For example, I’m in a rural area and have 2 good options for fiber for about $50/mo with higher tier plans available.

    • NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world
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      16 hours ago

      They’ve been doing the exact same thing in Canada.

      Give us money to expand! Billions later, or we got 5 new houses connected and spent the rest upgrading other shit not for rural people.