The Telecommunications Act of 1996 expanded the traditional goal of universal service to include increased access to both telecommunications and advanced services – such as high-speed Internet – for all consumers at just, reasonable and affordable rates. The Act established principles for universal service that specifically focused on increasing access to evolving services for consumers living in rural and insular areas, and for consumers with low-incomes. Additional principles called for increased access to high-speed Internet in the nation’s schools, libraries and rural health care facilities.
"After these systems closed, consumers in these rural areas saw a reduction in competition as their only choices for video service became DirecTV and Dish Network," [ACA Senior VP of Government Affairs Ross] Lieberman said. "Given the rise in programming costs, we are likely to see even more system closings in the coming years. Moreover, we’re also likely to see more small cable systems controlling costs by dropping programming, particularly independent programming."
Fucking. God.
