Free Internet at Your Expense for Low Income Families

[Foxfyre]

Coming soon for Low Income Folks. . . .Free Internet access and Other Perks

So what do you think? Is it a good use of your hard earned tax dollar to provide free internet access, computer instruction, and low cost computers to folks while you are busting your butt to keep a roof over your head, food on the table, and you pay for your internet access and full price for your computer as well as whatever you need to use it?

Or will the payoff of better skilled and trained people be worth it?

Would you approve of all porn sites, shopping sites, gaming sites, Facebook, Twitter, etc. being blocked by the internet provider to ensure that the computers will be used only for research and educational purposes?

Please discuss.

The Tampa Housing Authority has secured a $2.1 million federal grant to provide broadband Internet access to 23 public housing sites. Details are being finalized with Bright House Networks, which will provide the service, and residents will be connected beginning March 1.

The project will be the first such one in Florida and one of the few in the nation.

Internet access will be available to about 3,400 residents for free for the first two years. After two years, residents will be able to pay for the access for the next three years for $18.35 per month.

In addition to having Internet access, the housing authority also will make available a selection of computer training options, including basic computer and Internet keyboarding, Microsoft A+ Certification and an online computer curriculum for school-age children.

The program also will help residents get computers of their own by offering 1,000 computers for only $125 and will install almost 200 computers in two communities to offer residents a designated work space. The authority also will launch a website for residents to provide information on housing, employment opportunities, and the like.
Coming soon to Tampa public housing: Free Internet access

 

[VaYank5150]

How much is this program costing the individual taxpayer?

 

[High_Gravity]

How much is this program costing the individual taxpayer?

Your avatar is awesome!

 

[VaYank5150]

How much is this program costing the individual taxpayer?

Your avatar is awesome!

Thanks! But, Gunny will be along at some point in the day to take it down for me....

 

[Foxfyre]

How much is this program costing the individual taxpayer?

You tell me. $2.1 million to provide free internet service plus some other perks for one low income housing project in Tampa Fl. How much would that be if all low income housing projects in Florida are included. In all of the southeast? In all of the south? In all of the country?

The point isn't so much the amount allocated for this project but the precedent being set and the implications of that.

 

[Madeline]

I dunno, Foxfyre. I'm less enthusiastic about the computers being sold at such a low cost than I am about the internet being provided...but it's possible they worked a deal and are just passing along the low price.

I'd be happier if the city wanted to embed computer labs in the projects that people could come and use, but I guess this dun set my hair on fire. Certainly does seem likely to lead to some new hope for the impoverished residents.

 

[Madeline]

How much is this program costing the individual taxpayer?

You tell me. $2.1 million to provide free internet service plus some other perks for one low income housing project in Tampa Fl. How much would that be if all low income housing projects in Florida are included. In all of the southeast? In all of the south? In all of the country?

The point isn't so much the amount allocated for this project but the precedent being set and the implications of that.

There have been proposals before to use government money to bring broadband to rural areas. The customers would pay a cost, as I understand them, but the ISPs are not incentivized to string wire so far away from heavily populated areas.

I suppose you can argue that broadband is akin to any other utility nowadays.

 

[xotoxi]

The Tampa Housing Authority has secured a $2.1 million federal grant to provide broadband Internet access to 23 public housing sites.

Internet access will be available to about 3,400 residents for free for the first two years. After two years, residents will be able to pay for the access for the next three years for $18.35 per month.

FREE PORN FOR 2 YEARS???

I'm quitting my job and moving to Tampa!

 

[VaYank5150]

How much is this program costing the individual taxpayer?

You tell me. $2.1 million to provide free internet service plus some other perks for one low income housing project in Tampa Fl. How much would that be if all low income housing projects in Florida are included. In all of the southeast? In all of the south? In all of the country?

The point isn't so much the amount allocated for this project but the precedent being set and the implications of that.

That works out to just over .13/taxpayer based on filings from 2009. Yes, I think I can handle paying an additional .13/year for this program.

 

[Baruch Menachem]

Free internet is available at your public library.

And at most Krogers and Safeway grocery stores.

And it is available for a $1 at McDonalds.

This is unnecessary.

 

[Revere]

You mean the same people that trash housing they don't own will not trash computers they don't own?

 

[Revere]

Who cares if its thirteen cents? Government is insolvent.

 

[Sallow]

Great idea.

Internet is a wonderful resource for people looking for jobs..or wanting to learn new skills on the cheap.

 

[Revere]

Is the reason they are not looking for jobs because they don't have the internet?

 

[Foxfyre]

I dunno, Foxfyre. I'm less enthusiastic about the computers being sold at such a low cost than I am about the internet being provided...but it's possible they worked a deal and are just passing along the low price.

I'd be happier if the city wanted to embed computer labs in the projects that people could come and use, but I guess this dun set my hair on fire. Certainly does seem likely to lead to some new hope for the impoverished residents.

Millions of us managed to get an education without free internet or computers being provided. Heck, there wasn't any such thing as personal computers during much of my formal education. If you wanted to be educated you had to get your butt out of bed, get to a school campus someplace, and attend classes.

EVERY school from first through twelfth grade, every junior college, every university, every community center, etc. etc. etc. has computers provided for use. Not as convenient as being able to stay home in your jammies with your beer and pretzels for sure, but perhaps creating a work ethic to have to get out and get it done.

Small rural communities without broadband access may just have to work together to bring it in like all rural communities have had to do with sewer systems, electricity, natural gas, and telephones. And availability of broadband access is not a problem in Tampa FL.

 

[High_Gravity]

How much is this program costing the individual taxpayer?

Your avatar is awesome!

Thanks! But, Gunny will be along at some point in the day to take it down for me....

That wouldn't happen to be you or your wife in the avatar would it?

 

[WillowTree]

Coming soon for Low Income Folks. . . .Free Internet access and Other Perks

So what do you think? Is it a good use of your hard earned tax dollar to provide free internet access, computer instruction, and low cost computers to folks while you are busting your butt to keep a roof over your head, food on the table, and you pay for your internet access and full price for your computer as well as whatever you need to use it?

Or will the payoff of better skilled and trained people be worth it?

Would you approve of all porn sites, shopping sites, gaming sites, Facebook, Twitter, etc. being blocked by the internet provider to ensure that the computers will be used only for research and educational purposes?

Please discuss.

The Tampa Housing Authority has secured a $2.1 million federal grant to provide broadband Internet access to 23 public housing sites. Details are being finalized with Bright House Networks, which will provide the service, and residents will be connected beginning March 1.

The project will be the first such one in Florida and one of the few in the nation.

Internet access will be available to about 3,400 residents for free for the first two years. After two years, residents will be able to pay for the access for the next three years for $18.35 per month.

In addition to having Internet access, the housing authority also will make available a selection of computer training options, including basic computer and Internet keyboarding, Microsoft A+ Certification and an online computer curriculum for school-age children.

The program also will help residents get computers of their own by offering 1,000 computers for only $125 and will install almost 200 computers in two communities to offer residents a designated work space. The authority also will launch a website for residents to provide information on housing, employment opportunities, and the like.
Coming soon to Tampa public housing: Free Internet access

Oh goody, We The People get to pay for the pervs to surf Porn. Whooppppeee

 

[VaYank5150]

Your avatar is awesome!

Thanks! But, Gunny will be along at some point in the day to take it down for me....

That wouldn't happen to be you or your wife in the avatar would it?

Uhhhhhh...no.

 

[Madeline]

Ya, well, I see your point but I'm not outraged. If even one family uses the 'net to escape poverty, good on them.

 

[Revere]

Are families with internet access considered to have escaped poverty, bumpkin?