this post was submitted on 22 Jun 2024
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United States | News & Politics

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[–] Bluefalcon@discuss.tchncs.de 27 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Expanding internet access in rural areas with the Build Back Better plan. That alone was a massive investment into our infrastructure.

[–] krolden@lemmy.ml 4 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Lol what about like the ten times they've done that before

[–] Bluefalcon@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 5 months ago

I have family in rural NC , two different areas. Both have lived in those areas for 15 yrs. When AT&T pulled out due to not enough customers, they lost internet. The only option they had was 10 down, 1 up (advertised), for $65 a month.

Last year they got word AT&T, and several smaller name companies were moving out there. Now they get 300 down, 10 up for $50.

[–] Schadrach@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

I'm actually switching very soon to a fiber company that recently started covering my area and has only been active at all for a few years. They only have coverage in like three towns, and don't cover all of any of them (mostly for obvious reasons related to local geography and where you reach the most people by running the lines).

Is there any info on who got funding for Internet in rural areas via Build Back Better? I'm curious if Biden is the reason they are a thing and we have any broadband Internet competition at all.

[–] Bluefalcon@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

You can see of you qualify for the program : reconnect. It has a few reference to who has received funding. If you dig deeper, I'm sure you will find more info.

Biden made the big announcement as part of multiple packages at the time. The same plan that is suppose to put high speed rails on the east and west coasts.

https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2021/10/22/usda-make-115-billion-available-help-people-living-rural

[–] Schadrach@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 5 months ago

I'll have to dig deeper. It just seemed...convenient that a local fiber provider started up in 2021, started service in 2022 and has been slowly expanding through the region since.