Thousands allegedly bilked U.S. for free internet -- in one child's name

[dalton99a]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2022/09/08/fcc-broadband-fraud-coronavirus/
https://archive.ph/hTL8V

Thousands allegedly bilked U.S. for free internet — in one child’s name
The potential scam targeted the Affordable Connectivity Program, renewing fears that a program meant to close the country’s digital divide may be susceptible to fraud
By Tony Romm
Updated September 8, 2022 at 5:31 p.m. EDT | Published September 8, 2022 at 1:20 p.m. EDT

More than 1,000 households in Oklahoma used the identity of a single 4-year-old to obtain free or discounted internet service from the U.S. government, part of a broader wave of suspected fraud now raising new questions about Washington’s attempts to close the digital divide.

The apparent plot targeted the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides up to $30 each month toward millions of Americans’ mobile phone or home internet bills. Similar suspicious activity also surfaced in Ohio and Texas, according to the inspector general for the Federal Communications Commission, a watchdog that uncovered the alleged scam.

In total, the potentially fraudulent activity may have resulted in about $1.4 million in misspending, according to federal investigators. The government sent that money directly to telecom carriers, which under law accept federal benefits on their subscribers’ behalf and apply the discounts to customers’ bills. None of the companies that processed the suspect applications and received federal funds are named in the report.

But the FCC’s inspector general on Thursday described the matter as a serious threat, one that if left unresolved could undermine the roughly $14 billion in subsidies Congress adopted last year. And its findings offered a stark reminder of the myriad problems that plagued its decades-old predecessor — an initiative to provide low-cost telephone service that had been riddled with fraud over the years.

[Turbineguy]

1. For wingnuts

stealing from the gubmint is honorable and proper.

[Faux pas]

2. ...

For folks who hate the government, they can sure think of a lot of ways to screw the tax payers.

[maxsolomon]

3. At some point, I can't really blame people for stealing access.

I work on Affordable Housing projects, and each apartment has to pay separately for Internet. That's $50/month many of them don't have, and that doesn't include equipment.

Yet my office provides High-Speed service for a hundred people, all on 1 secure server, and I've done dormitory projects where all the students access the web through Wi-Fi repeaters up and down every hallway.

The 14 billion in subsidies is ultimately going to providers for an extremely inefficient delivery model that maximizes profit over service.

[mntleo2]

4. I Use These Programs

...and it is wonderful for needy families whose kids need it for their schooling and socialization. As an elder 300% below the poverty level, I have been able to attend my religious activities, meetings through Zoom nationally as well as locally with my volunteer work, and keep contact with loved ones. This is not just nice for me, but nice for others. I also use the free phone system.

The Telecommunications Act, passed in 1996, mandates that funding goes to "the digital Divide," for low income individuals and families. Thus the labs in libraries and local computer, labs within schools and communities was a beginning. As the need for this program to further advance and needed, this mandate has made it important to call the Internet become a "utility" meaning that it has to be categorized and funded in order for ALL to partake in order to be a fair and needed resource.

I am not sure if the Internet is now called a "utility" but many have called for it. Telephones have long been subsidized, but now with the need for wireless, this also needs to be called a ":Utility" as well ~ and is funded ,since the beginning of the Obama administration.

I am an activist for the Digital Divide among other issues but it has been a long haul. And never forget that thru the Telecommunications Act this has allocated $millions to the large phone and Internet companies for them to create this service too. If you really want to know how this money was spent you have a right to view the budget and records and then speak to your state, county and city councils.

That greedy people have hacked this funding is beyond evil. IN the 1970s there were greedy construction companies who bilked the government out of $millions. It was called HUD's 235 and it was so the low income could buy their own homes instead of rent. When those S.O.B.s did that, instead of going after them the government shut the whole program down and gave the money to wealthy landlords in order for them to rent these homes for lower cost.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Hope this helps
Cat in Seattle