Posted on Jul 23, 2021
Biden Administration Slow-Walks Plans To Give Cubans Internet Access - Washington Free Beacon
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The State Department is slow-walking plans to provide wireless internet access to Cuba as the country's communist government shuts down social media sites in response to pro-democracy protests.
Several American companies say they can quickly provide internet access to Cuba once they secure federal funding and approval. But multiple sources told the Washington Free Beacon that the State Department has yet to make those assurances, in part because some officials are worried about alienating the Cuban government. Lawmakers say this inaction is unnecessary and puts Cuban lives at stake.
"Cubans are being kidnapped and tortured by the regime, and they aren't able to broadcast this abuse to the world," Sen. Rick Scott (R., Fla.) told the Free Beacon. "The Biden administration must lead the international community in reconnecting the Cuban people to the world. The technology is there—this should already be done."
Protests erupted in Cuba this month in opposition to the country's communist dictatorship and its botched COVID response. The Cuban regime responded by arresting and imprisoning protesters in undisclosed locations and restricting citizens' already limited internet access. Though the internet blockade has made it hard for outside observers to monitor the situation, human rights groups have condemned the regime for abusing protesters.
One plan being shopped on Capitol Hill would use high-altitude balloons to beam internet access to Cuba. A similar program used balloons to provide internet access to Puerto Rico in the wake of a 2017 hurricane. Raven Aerostar, the South Dakota company that manufactured those balloons, told Senate staffers it could have balloons up and running in a matter of weeks. Policymakers have warmed to the proposal, which uses proven technology and would not require smuggling material into Cuba.
Several American companies say they can quickly provide internet access to Cuba once they secure federal funding and approval. But multiple sources told the Washington Free Beacon that the State Department has yet to make those assurances, in part because some officials are worried about alienating the Cuban government. Lawmakers say this inaction is unnecessary and puts Cuban lives at stake.
"Cubans are being kidnapped and tortured by the regime, and they aren't able to broadcast this abuse to the world," Sen. Rick Scott (R., Fla.) told the Free Beacon. "The Biden administration must lead the international community in reconnecting the Cuban people to the world. The technology is there—this should already be done."
Protests erupted in Cuba this month in opposition to the country's communist dictatorship and its botched COVID response. The Cuban regime responded by arresting and imprisoning protesters in undisclosed locations and restricting citizens' already limited internet access. Though the internet blockade has made it hard for outside observers to monitor the situation, human rights groups have condemned the regime for abusing protesters.
One plan being shopped on Capitol Hill would use high-altitude balloons to beam internet access to Cuba. A similar program used balloons to provide internet access to Puerto Rico in the wake of a 2017 hurricane. Raven Aerostar, the South Dakota company that manufactured those balloons, told Senate staffers it could have balloons up and running in a matter of weeks. Policymakers have warmed to the proposal, which uses proven technology and would not require smuggling material into Cuba.
Biden Administration Slow-Walks Plans To Give Cubans Internet Access - Washington Free Beacon
Posted from freebeacon.com
Edited 3 y ago
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 8
Posted 3 y ago
Why are taxpayers dollars going to be used for internet access for a foreign country?
I can think of much better ways to spend our money.
I can think of much better ways to spend our money.
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Posted 3 y ago
There was a time when plans were at the ready to annihilate the Communist regime of Cuba which only lacked opportunity.
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SGT Dave Tracy
3 y
LTC John Shaw - Nebraska...so shady!
All kidding aside, it behooves war planners to occasionally dust off strategic plans for any possible--even if profoundly improbable--adversaries, anywhere in the world.
All kidding aside, it behooves war planners to occasionally dust off strategic plans for any possible--even if profoundly improbable--adversaries, anywhere in the world.
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MSG (Join to see)
3 y
SGT Dave Tracy - Hey, I'm from Nebraska. Other than the Zoo and the College World Series....there isn't really anything worth going to war over in NE.
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Sgt (Join to see)
3 y
MSG (Join to see) - Family-loving, traditional marriage supporters, God-loving, hardworking, 2Aconservative people...a bigger threat to the tyrannical Oligarchy US Admin than Commies.
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Any investment made by a telecom on Cuban soil will be taken by the Cuban government to have the right to operate in the country. I can see Satellite as a option but who pays for the expense of the receiving device and continued maintenance. Perhaps Elon Musk's Starlink is an option at $590.00 for the dish and downlink? https://www.starlink.com/
SpaceX is developing a low latency, broadband internet system to meet the needs of consumers across the globe. Enabled by a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites, Starlink will provide fast, reliable internet to populations with little or no connectivity, including those in rural communities and places where existing services are too expensive or unreliable.
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