Why is the US taxpayer paying for broadband in Puerto Rico?

[^_^ 5,021]

National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce:

The Puerto Rico Bridge Initiative plans to provide fast, affordable broadband connectivity for last-mile Internet service providers and underserved areas of Puerto Rico, including the islands of Culebra and Vieques, by establishing a broadband “bridge” to the United States mainland and deploying a high-capacity middle-mile network on the islands. The project plans to purchase a 10 Gbps undersea fiber-optic cable directly connecting to Miami and deploy more than 180 miles of terrestrial middle-mile microwave network using 11 towers. The network will offer speeds from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps to anchor institutions and last-mile providers. More than 1,700 community anchor institutions are expected to be directly connected, including more than 1,500 K-12 schools.

Total Award:

$25,682,370

Fox News:

San Juan – Puerto Rico received $26 million from the Commerce Department to develop access to broadband service on the Caribbean island, the U.S. territory with the slowest Internet connections.

...

Currently in Puerto Rico only 31 percent of the public has Internet access via broadband service.

...

The digital divide that exists with the rest of the United States will be reduced thanks to the funds coming from Washington.

The Puerto Rico Bridge Initiative is being undertaken thanks to funds coming from the 2009 stimulus bill through the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration, or NTIA.

...

The costs of getting the broadband project under way in Puerto Rico are higher than in other areas due, among other reasons, to the island's mountainous terrain and its dense vegetation.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

That's why we promote anything and everything that accelerates global warming. That island will be under water and the taxpayer off the hook. It's all coming together.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Do they pay a universal Subscriber Line Charge?

Charge for Network Access (Subscriber Line Charge):

This charge covers the costs of the local phone network. This charge may appear as “FCC Charge for Network Access,” “Federal Line Cost Charge,” “Interstate Access Charge,” “Federal Access Charge,” “Interstate Single Line Charge,” “Customer Line Charge” or “FCC-Approved Customer Line Charge.” The FCC sets the maximum allowable Federal Subscriber Line Charge. This is not a government charge or tax, and it does not end up in the U.S. treasury.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Puerto Rico is a leech pretty much.

It's time they put up and become state #51 or they take the steps necessary to be their own nation.

[^_^ 5,021]

Puerto Rico is a leech pretty much.

It's time they put up and become state #51 or they take the steps necessary to be their own nation.

Would you be supportive of PR being the 51st state?

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Would you be supportive of PR being the 51st state?

as I said, one or the other. This 'territory' bs and automatic citizenship needs to go though.

I support them being state #51, but it would seem they are just happy the way they are. That's why congress needs to give them an ultimatum.

[^_^ 5,021]

as I said, one or the other. This 'territory' bs and automatic citizenship needs to go though.

I support them being state #51, but it would seem they are just happy the way they are. That's why congress needs to give them an ultimatum.

That assumes Congress wants them to be # 51. Do you think Congress wants that?