Kamala Harris has Promised and is Promising to Provide Internet Services
It All Sounds Goods
Repeating the previous Policy page, this sounds really good however, when you dig into the details of this promise, you see there is nothing there, except for the empty promise and ignoring what the Biden-Harris administration has done.
Expanding Broadband Access
This program began with a bang in February 2023 source and then quickly died in June 2024. source
Some believe it was intent of the Administration from the start to make headlines and then terminate funding.
Spend More Do Less
Kamala was appointed to oversee the the broadband rollout when the Intrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was signed into law.
The Bust-This bill was $42 billion, it’s been 1,100 days, and zero homes have been connected source
A lot reasons for this are on the table, but the primary obstacle is the program collapsing from its own bureaucratic red tape.
Note also the bill is titled “Infrastructure Investment….”. Kamala frequently states “we are investing….”, but when have you seen actual investment by this administration or the government in general. With minor observation this is just another term for government spending.
Remember, $42 billion, 1,110 days and zero connectivity.
Starlink
Hurricane’s Helene and Milton hammered many states, in some same cases wiping out complete communities. Where was FEMA? Where was Kamala? Nowhere in sight! Within days of the hurricane alerts, Elon Musk had delivered, and continues to deliver, Starlink internet kits….instant connectivity. source The private sector at work!
What is Starlink?
The devices may remind you of Dish Internet but it’s advanced technology to connect to low-orbiting satellites allowing for near instant connectivity. Starlink was designed for rural communities. The Biden-Harris administration refused to pay for the service as it didn’t meet their high speed requirements. Just a talking point to hide their own failure. Starlink is not high speed in the true sense but it meets high speed definition elsewhere. And, let’s not forget, thousands of connections were made within days in a totally devastated area. It does appear that FEMA and the administration woke up and has agreed to a contract with Startlink. But remember, Starlink delivered first, get the people connected now, and worried about payment later.