NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] broadband subsidy figures
------- Forwarded Message From: David Farber <dave@farber.net> To: "ip" <ip@v2.listbox.com> Subject: [IP] $6 billion in subsidies? Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2008 07:00:35 -0400 Begin forwarded message: From: dewayne@warpspeed.com (Dewayne Hendricks) Date: June 3, 2008 6:34:43 PM EDT To: Dewayne-Net Technology List <xyzzy@warpspeed.com> Subject: [Dewayne-Net] $6 billion in subsidies? [Note: This item comes from reader Tom Poe. DLH] From: Tom Poe <tompoe@fngi.net> Date: June 3, 2008 2:07:13 PM PDT To: KJMWEB@fcc.gov, Michael.Copps@fcc.gov, Jonathan.Adelstein@fcc.gov, dtaylortateweb@fcc.gov, Robert.McDowell@fcc.gov Cc: dewayne@warpspeed.com Subject: $6 billion in subsidies? Somewhere between May 27th and May 29th of 2008, Kevin Martin apparently made the following reference, to effect: "You have to look at this in context: demographics, geography, complexity. There are two issues: one if penetration, the other is the speed of broadband. The speed: people like Verizon are trying to upgrade, and we have proposed legislation to help that, and change the definition of what broadband is...We also need to change our subsidization system...we spend about $6 billion a year in subsidies to telecom companies. They are competing for subsidies and not for service.? I would like to learn more about this $6 billion number. What does it represent, exactly? Please point me to the source of the figure quoted by the Chairman. I live in north-central Iowa. I am held hostage to the duopoly, and my income is far enough below the poverty line to qualify for universal lifeline help (or whatever it's called). I pay the minimum, and get DSL service (questionable). My monthly fee for landline and DSL (not counting a $15 per month fee to an "approved" ISP) of $38.80, payable to Qwest, does not indicate what additional charges are made to the U.S. Treasury by Qwest for providing my telecommunications services. I would like to pin that figure down through independent sources. Calls to Qwest lead me to believe I'm not getting accurate information from them, nor do I have any trust in what they tell me. Respectfully, Tom Poe, Charles City, Iowa - ------------------------------------------- Archives: http://www.listbox.com/member/archive/247/=now RSS Feed: http://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/247/ Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com ------- End of Forwarded Message