Do you remember several years ago during the Obamacare debates when those who opposed it warned of higher prices, less access, and too much government control? Do you remember how Obama promised the opposite with lower prices, greater access, and a promise that “if you like your doctor you can keep your doctor?”
Do you remember during the Net Neutrality debates when those who opposed it warned of higher prices, less access, and too much government control? Do you remember how Obama promised the opposite with lower prices, greater access, and a promise that Net Neutrality wouldn’t affect your current service?
Well, it’s only been a few weeks and I’ll bet you know what I’m about to say.
According to a recent L.A. Times analysis, of all places, the recently adopted regulations will make your monthly Internet bill more complicated and more expensive. Here’s why:
Every month, consumers pay a small fee on their phone bill for a federal program that uses the money to provide affordable access to telecommunications service in rural areas, underserved inner cities and schools.
(But) now the fee could start appearing on broadband bills too, in a major expansion of the nearly two-decade-old Universal Service Fund program.
The FCC sets the size of the fund, and the size has been increasing almost every year as the focus has shifted from providing phone service to providing Internet access to those without it.
In December, they approved a $1.5 billion annual increase in the amount the fund can spend to high-speed online services for schools and libraries under the E-rate program.
The feds plan to expand the existing program to provide internet services to underserved areas. And the money to pay for it has to come from somewhere. I think you know what that means.
Supporters of Net Neutrality claimed that the Internet Tax Freedom Act would protect consumers from higher taxes resulting from the new regulations, but that only bans taxes, not fees. As we learned from the Obamacare fiasco, the government doesn’t care if it’s called a tax or a fee, just as long as they get your money.
Senator Ted Cruz once called Net Neutrality “Obamacare for the Internet.”
- Obamacare costs more – Net Neutrality costs more
- Obamacare restricts access – Net Neutrality restricts access
- Obamacare stole my healthcare – Net Neutrality is doing the same
Considering the similarities, it looks like he was right.
