Quote:
Originally Posted by scottw
that's a distinction without a difference...it's a tax, a redistributive tax, call it a "fee", but tell us what we get for the "fee" that we're paying...  |
It was a deal worked with the telecom providers. Lower regulation and work to improve infrastructure to increase competition.
Certainly the objective of Lifeline is to help disadvantaged and disabled people who can't afford phone service stay connected.
But Lifeline only represents less than 20% of the full program, the rest going to rural areas, schools etc...and only reason some of that goes to cell phones is that they're now often cheaper than land lines.
The FCC under Obama is reforming the plan to achieve 200M savings in 2012 and 3B in savings over three years.
I don't have an issue with the program as long as it's monitored for abuse. But the characterization that these are "Obama phones" or this has somehow created a Federal tax liability or government entitlement are just patently false.
-spence
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