Conservatives target $8 billion internet and phone subsidy. Supreme Court weighs in.

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: USA Today

Published 5:12 a.m. ET March 25, 2025


WASHINGTON - When the pandemic prevented Arkansas River Valley residents from accessing the internet at their nearby local library, it didn't stop librarians from providing the critical service. They mounted antennas on rooftops to extend the signal. “We still do it,” said Misty Hawkins, the regional library director.

The rural population with a median family income below $46,000 depends on the reliable internet connection that its seven libraries provide through a federal program. “Lives are being changed through the distribution of a computer, through a connection, or a person being able to have resume assistance, or being able to get their GED,” Hawkins said. “That’s life changing and that’s whether or not they’re going to be able to put food on the table.”

The Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear a challenge to the $8 billion Universal Service Fund program that could jeopardize the availability and affordability of high-speed internet and phone service for millions of Americans, including those served by the Arkansas River Valley Regional Library System.

The case could also have broad repercussions for how much power Congress can delegate to federal agencies to make decisions about implementing legislation. The Supreme Court’s conservative super majority has in recent years curtailed the authority of executive agencies. And the latest challenge is part of that larger conservative effort to curb the “administrative state.”

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/03/25/supreme-court-internet-phone-subsidy/82641812007/

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So are they going to "curtail" 45 or does this only apply to Democratic administrations?

[Martin68]

1. One of Biden's best initiatives was a nationwide push to provide internet to underserved and often economically

destitute rural areas. Internet service is not a luxury - it is essential to every citizen from students in school to working adults, to retired adults. There are many services these days that cannot be accessed without an internet connection. While we are not economically disadvantaged, many of our neighbors are. We live in a rural area in Virginia with very poor mobile phone and internet service. Thanks to Biden, we now have fiber optic internet, and our less fortunate neighbors received subsidies to purchase computer equipment to access it.

[ToxMarz]

2. Sure, because by 'conservative math' if it costs $8 billion to subsidize this

then they can privatize it and charge the mooks $16 billion and get away with only delivering $4 billion of services. Then maybe that will neccesitate some sort of Government subsidy to prop it up and enable people to pay for it , which is ok as long as someone is making a profit on the taxpayers money. The Governemt may even need to pay for improvements to the poor performing essential sevice, which is fine, as long as private equity owns those improvment investments. That's their definition of winning. Of course not all of it will go into the capaitalist coffers, the politicians will see a big kick back of some sort.

[SharonAnn]

3. So the conservatives want to deny affordable internet accesos to their red state supporters!