The biggest Internet service providers will dominate a $42.45 billion broadband grant program unless the Biden administration changes a rule requiring grant recipients to obtain a letter of credit from a bank, according to a joint statement from consumer advocacy groups, local government officials, and advocates for small ISPs.

The letter sent today to US government officials argues that “by establishing capital barriers too steep for all but the best-funded ISPs, the LOC [letter-of-credit requirement] shuts out the vast majority of entities the program claims to prioritize: small and community-centered ISPs, minority and women-owned ISPs, nonprofits, and municipalities.”

The rule is part of the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program that’s being administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

  • Fredselfish@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Exactly what will happen and they won’t use to the grant money towards what it meant for.

    It big grift and Biden gave it to them. Remember he is a centrist who caters to the rich.

    • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Remember we paid for every home in America to have fiber optic internet in the 90s. They took the money, ran, and faced no consequences.

    • kiranraine@reddthat.com
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      1 year ago

      I mean he’s always been considered a moderate. The voting system encouraged him through since we can’t get voting reforms to pass. What I wouldn’t give for ranked elimination style voting or something… I’m so tired of being continually screwed by the system and it encouraging the gerrymandering that happened in my state despite our own laws against it