According to the Feb. 22 Gazette report, “Thousands could lose internet service,” when the federal government ends the Affordable Connectivity Act, the ACP, some 55,000 people will be affected in the region. Well, my goodness. Why on earth should the U.S. government subsidize not us low-income people but the giant multi-million dollar conglomerates Spectrum Charter and Comcast? Really that is what it amounts to because why on earth should these blood-sucking what-should-be-public utilities be charging such outrageous amounts? I have internet, depend on internet. ACP reduced my internet cost first to $39 but then it went to $59 and now without ACP it will go $89. No cable television: Who can afford more than $100 for 200 stations that except for perhaps 5 or 6 are not even the ones I want to watch?

In 2021 Charter Communications chairman and CEO Tom Rutledge received compensation worth $41.8 million, up from $38.8 million in 2020. What is it by now? So who is really subsidizing whom? More and more cities and towns are attempting to create internet as public utilities — a daunting task involving not just millions of dollars but navigating the difficult world of taking over existing infrastructure and navigating regulations meant to protect the cable monopolies from such interference. Assistance to low-income internet users? No! Let’s call it what it is: Tax dollar philanthropy to the rich for a public good.

Merriam Ansara

Easthampton