On August 21, 2012, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued its eighth annual report on advanced communications capability in America, pursuant to section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Using the information in this report, the FCC concluded that despite continued investments by the private sector, as well as grants and funding from the universal service fund (USF), there are still 19 million Americans living in 7 million households without fixed broadband capabilities. While that means 95 percent of Americans now have access to broadband, the FCC has determined that “implementation work is far from complete.”
When Regulating, Less is More
In fact, if the findings of two recent reports are any indication, government regulations are choking off a large measure of private-sector activity, and their grip is getting stronger. The first report, “License to Work,” published by the Institute for Justice (IJ) on May 8, 2012, documents the expansion of many ludicrous licensing laws. These regulations, most of which were implemented at the state level in the name of protecting consumers, often amount to incumbent businesses raising barriers to entry. For example, it is easier to make money as an electrician when potential competitors face higher hurdles to doing business in a particular area.
Unsolicited Mail Should Not be Funded by Taxpayers
There’s a lot that $63,000 can buy: a year’s worth of tuition, fees, and related expenses at Harvard; three years of healthcare costs for an average family of four; a brand new 2012 BMW Z4 Roadster with an automatic transmission and a turbocharged inline-six; or, if you’re a member of the House of Representatives, nine month’s worth of unsolicited mail.
Senate Appropriators Whiff on MEADS
Senate appropriators do not appear to have gotten the memo.
Retransmission and Must Carry Rules Must Go!
Television has changed vastly since the days analog signals carried only three major networks and one or two other channels over the airways. Today, there is a wide range of viewing options available to consumers, ranging from cable and fiber optic networks on the ground, to satellite feeds and online distribution of programming.
Mobile Government Apps Lack Transparency, Direction
Since entering the market for mobile apps, the federal government has shown little restraint on deployment and no respect for taxpayers. According to USA.gov, there are currently 107 mobile apps among federal agencies. Given the scope of many of the apps on the website, insufficient planning has resulted in duplication. Even worse, there is no indication of the cost of development and deployment of these new apps to taxpayers. Given these shortcomings, government agencies must coordinate efforts in order to increase transparency and minimize duplication.
Undocumented Workers Receive Billions in Tax Credits
On July 7, 2011, the Department of the Treasury’s Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) issued a telling report. TIGTA found that unauthorized workers who are ineligible to obtain Social Security Numbers (SSNs), the vast majority of whom are illegal immigrants, were paid $4.2 billion in refundable tax credits in 2010.
Trivial Resolutions Come at a High Cost to Taxpayers
According to a June 2012 Gallup poll, 79 percent of Americans disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job. Perhaps this is because legislation passed by members of Congress is all too often a reflection of their parochial rather than overarching national interests. What this means for taxpayers is that instead of focusing on job creation, deficit reduction, and turning the economy around, Congress is wasting its resources on inconsequential measures, such as commemorative resolutions.
Transparency Leads to Defunding of MEADS
A little transparency certainly goes a long way.
Though Some Cuts Made, Farm Bill is still Flush with Waste
On June 21, 2012, the Senate voted 64-35 in favor of S. 3240, the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012, which would cut the deficit by $23.6 billion over a ten year period. At first glance this seems like a lot of money, until you realize that the bill authorizes a total of $969 billion in spending for fiscal years (FY) 2013 to 2022, and that the $23.6 billion reduction represents just 2.4 percent annual savings or $2.36 billion per year over the coming decade. The legislation does eliminate some wasteful programs, such as the Average Crop Revenue Election program, direct payments, and counter-cyclical payments, but many profligate programs are left largely unreformed and new ones have been created.