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Due to the large number of corporate applicants, some advocates and lawmakers say internet prices for California’s low-income residents may increase rather than decrease. Without that element of competition, some say internet bills would likely stay the same or even increase. But commercial internet companies argue that they’re in the best position to maintain broadband infrastructure in the long-run.
Mojica said the money should come with basic accessibility and affordability standards like other public utilities, “just based on the role plays in people's lives.” She said she can't speak to the prices that these providers will ultimately offer customers, but that having an open-access network would still give companies"a whole new opportunity" to expand their service territories.
For example, applicants that offer low-cost plans will receive additional points. So will those who commit not to raising prices for at least five years.“I don’t know how many we’ll win when it’s all said and done,” Stankey said. “But there is a significant amount of private funding that comes in to ultimately match that public grant subsidy.”