[kevingadd]

"astronomical cost of this on the tax-payer" is absurd. Who's having costs go up significantly as a result of free internet service being provided? You already have to pay for internet from a private provider, if you replace that with government-operated internet your internet is funded by taxes - but the government can tax corporations instead of individuals to avoid raising direct costs for any individual taxpayer, which they're doing!

[makomk]

Everyone's costs are going to go up significantly as a result of replacing broadband that mostly uses existing infrastructure with a program of ripping up every street in the country and installing new fibre optic connections to every house. Making it "free" and taxpayer-funded just means that there's no way to opt out of paying if the existing broadband is fast enough.

[kevingadd]

This program isn't "taxpayer funded". It's funded specifically by taxing tech companies, as is literally stated right below the headline in the article.

[randomsearch]

And it should be added than ultimately the tech companies will benefit most from this: larger markets for streaming and other services.