FCC Announces Cheap Computers, Internet Access
The FCC announced its plan to provide cheap computers and broadband Internet access to low income households, called the Connecting America Fund today. The Fund uses money from the Universal Service Fund, which is a fee attached to every U.S. phone bill. The Universal Service Fund was originally designed to make sure every household had telephone access, since access to a phone was seen as a life safety issue. If someone got sick, had an accident, or witnessed a crime, a phone would allow that household access to emergency and law enforcement services.
The FCC offers some stats on the benefit of this program; $700 million in annual economic benefits in rural areas, $50 billion in annual economic growth, and a $3 to $1 benefit to cost ratio for consumers. I'm actually a fan of rural broadband access, but what I don't see is the research study that was used to come up with these numbers. Some impressive stats, but I don't see original research quoted in the press or offered through the FCC web site.
There are no shortage of questions related to the new fund. Redemtech will offer $150 computers built from reclaimed parts. Why not a one laptop per child type program that would not only provide rugged, energy efficient laptops for U.S. citizens, but decrease production cost to provide these not just a computer dropped in their living room?
One of the problems low-income people cite is lack of computer training. Libraries provide both training, access to broadband, and up to date computers, yet we have consistently cut library funding over the past few years. This seems entirely inefficient. Libraries provide a safe place for kids, access to books and trained professionals, as well as training on how to use computers. Libraries also enforce social norms, limiting the amount of "fringe" computer use, since the Internet is accessed in a public space.
There are a ton of other questions; why wireline and not wireless access, why focus on the symptom of income inequality and not the source, what process allowed Redemtech to be chosen as the low cost provider, and how will we build accountability into this program and measure success?
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