From the NY Post = Free cell phones, a civil right ?

Tue Aug 2 21:19:01 CDT 2011

  ree cell phones are now a civil right
  <http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/capitol/free_cell_phones_are_civil_right_htTMcKQFrjdvyl9A6NHPdP>

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8:30 AM, August 1, 2011 ? Abby W. Schachter

Pennsylvanians on public assistance now have a new 'civil right' -- free 
cell phones. 
<http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_749344.html> 
Meanwhile, the rest of us get to pay higher cell bills as a result.

Recently, a federal government program called the Universal Service Fund 
came to the Keystone State and some residents are thrilled because it 
means they can enjoy 250 minutes a month and a handset for free, just 
because they don't have the money to pay for it. Through Assurance 
Wireless and SafeLink from Tracfone Wireless these folks get to reach 
out and touch someone while the cost of their service is paid for by 
everyone else. You see, the telecommunications companies are funding the 
Universal Service Fund to the tune of $4 billion a year because the feds 
said they have to and in order to recoup their money, the companies turn 
around and hike their fees to paying customers. But those of use paying 
for the free service for the poor, should be happy about this 
infuriating situation, says Gary Carter, manager of national 
partnerships for Assurance, because "the program is about peace of 
mind." Free cell service means "one less bill that someone has to pay, 
so they can pay their rent or for day care...it is a right to have peace 
of mind," Cater explained.

Well,the telecommunications companies don't seem to love providing this 
'right' to poor folks because they are trying to renegotiate the deal 
with the FCC. 
<http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/07/29/bloomberg1376-LP48HN1A1I4H01-25JGQ46LOHKR85R153NDU5NBF6.DTL> 
The telecommunications companies like Verizon and AT&T want more paying 
customers, but their desire to reform their deal with the feds dovetails 
nicely with the political ideology of the current FCC chairman Julian 
Genachowski, who like all Obama administration flunkies sees 'rights' 
where others see 'priviledges'. Just listen to how the agency put the 
question of providing broadband and cell service to those in rural and 
poor communities. "The goal of reform is to provide everyone with 
affordable voice and broadband," the agency said.

Between 14 million and 24 million Americans lack access to broadband, 
"and immediate prospects for deployment to them are bleak," the FCC said 
in a report last year. "Many of these Americans are poor or live in 
rural areas that will remain unserved without reform of the universal 
service program and other changes," the report said.

But who says that cheap or free broadband is anything more than a luxury?

Well, another Obama flunkie, Rahm Emanuel, that's who. As we reported in 
June 
<http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/capitol/the_obama_comcast_rahm_fairness_0jWsPiHqfE5zHiSNKghV6M> 
, the new mayor of Chicago was all excited to proclaim the wonderful 
news of free internet service to poor kids in Chicago's worst 
neighborhoods. And how could Mayor Emanuel pay for this new 'civil 
right'? Well, because the federal government extorted the money from 
Comcast when it wanted to buy NBC-Universal. Once again FCC chairman 
Genachowski was all about "helping the kids" by forcing the internet 
provider to give poor kids free netbooks, laptops, and internet service, 
indefinitely. And who is going to pay for this gift? Well, of course the 
rest of us poor saps who actually pay our bills.

Read more: 
http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/capitol/free_cell_phones_are_civil_right_htTMcKQFrjdvyl9A6NHPdP#ixzz1TvcH5zr2
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