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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 10 May 2022
Biden announces program offering discounted internet service

By AAMER MADHANI and the infrastructure bill, made
WILL WEISSERT expanding high-speed in-
Associated Press ternet access in rural and
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- low-income areas a prior-
dent Joe Biden announced ity. He has repeatedly spo-
Monday that 20 internet ken out about low-income
companies have agreed families that struggled
to provide discounted ser- finding reliable Wi-Fi, so
vice to people with low their children could take
incomes, a program that part in remote schooling
could effectively make and complete homework
tens of millions of house- assignments early in the
holds eligible for free ser- coronavirus pandemic, in-
vice through an already cluding, he said Monday,
existing federal subsidy. families driving to McDon-
"High speed internet is not ald's parking lots to access
a luxury any longer. It's a wireless internet inside the
necessity," Biden said at a restaurant.
sun-drenched rose garden The 20 internet companies
event with representatives that have agreed to lower
from participating compa- their rates for eligible con-
nies, as well as members of sumers provide service in
Congress. Vice President Kamala Harris, right, listens as President Joe Biden speaks at an event on lowering areas where 80% of the U.S.
The $1 trillion infrastructure the cost of high-speed internet in the Rose Garden of the White House, Monday, May 9, 2022, in population, including 50%
package passed by Con- Washington. of the rural population, live,
gress last year included Associated Press the president said. Partici-
$14.2 billion funding for the pating companies that of-
Affordable Connectivity fully paid for with govern- business stepped up. We're where he said slow internet fer service on tribal lands
Program, which provides ment assistance if they sign trying to get others to do has plagued residents and are providing $75 rates in
$30 monthly subsidies ($75 up with one of the provid- the same thing," Biden told businesses alike. those areas, the equivalent
in tribal areas) on internet ers participating in the pro- the crowd to sustained Newell said he wanted to of the federal government
service for millions of lower- gram. applause. "It's going to see more about what the subsidy in those areas.
income households. Biden noted that families of change peoples' lives." program will mean going Biden and Vice President
With the new commitment four earning about $55,000 Advocates were cautiously forward, but that his main Kamala Harris also met
from the internet provid- annually — or those includ- optimistic. question is — given that Monday with telecom ex-
ers, some 48 million house- ing someone eligible for "It might be a game- increased broadband ac- ecutives, members of Con-
holds will be eligible for Medicaid — will get a $30 changer," said Marty New- cess has generally been a gress and others to spot-
$30 monthly plans for 100 monthly credit, meaning ell, coordinator for Rural bipartisan issue in Congress light the effort to improve
megabits per second, or about 40 percent of Ameri- Broadband Policy at the -- "What took them so long" access to high-speed
higher speed, service — cans will qualify. Center for Rural Strategies Biden, during his White internet for low-income
making internet service "This is a case where big in Whitesburg, Kentucky, House run and the push for households.q

U.S. sanctions alleged IS child trafficking financiers

By FATIMA HUSSEIN ers, likely as child recruits" U.S. diplomat.Treasury says
Associated Press for IS. several of the individuals al-
WASHINGTON (AP) — The The sanctions, imposed by legedly conducted a large
U.S. announced Monday the Treasury Department's portion of transfers through
that it is sanctioning five Office of Foreign Assets Syria-based refugee
people accused of fund- Control, block any prop- camps by collecting funds
raising for the Islamic State erty or other assets the indi- in Indonesia and Turkey,
group and using the funds viduals have in the U.S. and where some the funds were
to help traffic children to those who engage in busi- used to pay for "smuggling
serve as fighters for the or- ness with the sanctioned children out of the camps
ganization. people could receive sec- and delivering them to (IS)
U.S. Treasury says the actors ondary sanctions. foreign fighters as potential
are pivotal to helping ex- The announcement comes recruits," according to Trea-
tremists travel to Syria and just two days ahead of a sury.
other regions where IS op- meeting of foreign ministers Under Secretary of the Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks during a news confer-
erates. from the global anti-IS co- Treasury for Terrorism and ence at the Treasury Department in Washington, Thursday, April
Dwi Dahlia Susanti and her alition that is happening in Financial Intelligence Brian 21, 2022.
accomplices are accused Morocco on Wednesday. Nelson said Treasury intends Associated Press
of facilitating money trans- Secretary of State Antony to "expose and disrupt an
fers from Indonesia, Turkey, Blinken had to cancel his international facilitation cent were children under to raise and move funds
and Syria, where the Trea- plan to attend because network that has supported the age of 18, according across multiple jurisdic-
sury Department says Sus- he tested positive for CO- (IS) recruitment, including to a 2019 United Nations tions," Nelson said in a news
tani used the funds to help VID-19, but the U.S. will be the recruitment of vulner- report. release. The U.S. govern-
"smuggle teenage children represented by Under Sec- able children in Syria." "The United States, as part ment refers to the group
out of the camps to the retary of State for Political Of the roughly 40,000 for- of the Global Coalition to as ISIS, which stands for the
desert, where they were re- Affairs Victoria Nuland, who eign IS members identified Defeat ISIS, is committed Islamic State of Iraq and
ceived by (IS) foreign fight- is the third highest-ranking in Iraq and Syria, 12 per- to denying (IS) the ability Syria.q