The Affordable Connectivity Subsidy
The headlines are ablaze with news of low-income Americans losing their internet subsidies ranging from $30 to $75 a month. So, I pose a simple question: When did internet access transition into a necessity? The truth is, it hasn’t. People don’t necessarily require taxpayer-funded internet access. This program is one of many contributing to our substantial deficit. With 97% of Americans owning cell phones, each equipped with internet access, it’s safe to say that access to phones and free internet, readily available at your nearest Starbucks (which, incidentally, is always bustling with customers), is widespread.
Surviving in our world does not hinge on having internet access. The internet doesn’t directly provide sustenance or clothing. Grocery stores and food markets remain accessible, as does contacting the doctor’s office via telephone. Even the 3% lacking cell phones have landlines. Thus, the argument for providing free internet is unfounded.
Excuses abound, particularly regarding children lacking internet access for homework. I recall my own school days, where I arrived an hour early daily to type assignments due to the absence of a typewriter. With internet service freely available at schools and libraries, there’s no justification for such claims. Arrive early, stay late, or tether to a cell phone—solutions abound. Moreover, social media, a frequent distraction for many students, inherently provides internet connectivity. Free internet services are also widely accessible.
Another oft-cited justification is telehealth. Yet, is a video call truly a substitute for an in-person doctor’s visit, especially when ill? One can provide the same information over the phone. Have we regressed to the point where verbal communication is challenging? Visiting the doctor or utilizing telehealth services over the phone remain viable options, without the need for internet or video.
Internet access isn’t indispensable for survival, and my taxpayer dollars shouldn’t fund leisure activities like streaming “The Flintstones.” Enough with the subsidies. Internet access isn’t a fundamental right; it’s a luxury.
