Poor homes to get $10 cable broadband next year

[Playinghardball]

Source: MSN

NEW YORK — Cable companies said Wednesday that they will offer Internet service for $9.95 per month to homes with children that are eligible for free school lunches.

The offer will start next summer and is part of an initiative the Federal Communications Commission cobbled together to get more U.S. homes connected to broadband.

One third, or about 35 million homes, don't have broadband. That affects people's ability to educate themselves and find and apply for jobs, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said.

"The broadband adoption gap in the U.S. is very large, and the costs of digital exclusion are high and getting higher," Genachowski said.

More: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45224412?gt=43001

[DainBramaged]

1. What about seniors?

[Playinghardball]

3. I agree

[intheflow]

8. Or poor families with children?

Why not this price for all poor households?

[frazzled]

10. Um, it does say it will go to poor families with children

Not getting your point. Perhaps you meant poor families without children?

I think this is seen as an educational effort: giving all kids the same access to succeed. (They of course will need computers, too; hopefully these will come from schools or elsewhere.)

Why don't we applaud this effort instead of always finding something that is lacking. Let's be happy for these needy kids.

[intheflow]

13. Meant to write poor families without children.

Typo'd. :blush:

[eShirl]

14. or the disabled... or anyone who qualifies for food stamps...

[HopeHoops]

2. What about the 1% - Do THEY GET $10 broadband? Huh? Not fair. SOCIALISM!!

Just predicting the FOX spin, that's all.

[Playinghardball]

4. LMAO!!

[toddwv]

5. Read some of the comments on the article. That about sums it up...

[JoePhilly]

6. Good.

We need all Americans connected via broadband.

I know the right wing hates this ... but they ignore one crucial reality.

The free market would NEVER run high speed lines to rural (usually red) areas. Its not cost effective. The infrastructure costs out weigh the profits in those areas.

So the government set up rules so that the internet provides can service these areas and much of the added cost is SHIFTED to those areas that are easier to serve (i.e., those areas with more customers).

But you won't hear the right wing or the GOP calling that socialism ... because they benefit from it.

[Vincardog]

7. I bet that does not include Rural Iowa

[Brother Buzz]

9. Just wait until the service organizations start sending the kids home with...

good serviceable internet/video compatible computers. I want to see the smile on that kids face when he takes his first few step into the tubes.

[shraby]

11. Now to get rid of the prolific advertising on our intertubes.

It's pervasive, makes pages load slower and sometimes has malware or other virii imbedded in it. Not a pleasant experience for newbies...or oldbies.

[RC]

12. Try this

Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File. I have used it for years, even added my own ad blockers from sites I visit regularly.

http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm

While all ad are not blocked, the are noticeably cut down.

[butterfly77]

15. K&R!

[RebelOne]

16. But what if those poor families cannot afford to buy computers?

Are the cable companies going to provide free computers also?