Don’t Starve: Pocket Edition review

In Don’t Starve you’re dropped into a world of dangers; use your wits and ingenuity to craft tools to help you survive – no matter what you do though, the end will always be the same.Death is inevitable. My first two days in Don’t Starve were no different; here’s about how they went:

Day 1 – Morning.

“Say pal, you don’t look so good. You’d better find something to eat before night comes.” That’s the only thing the gaunt, sharply-dressed man said to me. I lay on the ground, dazed, as he vanished into a crack in front of my very eyes. Climbing unsteadily to my feet, I looked around at the lightly-wooded grassland. It was specked with tufts of grass, tiny saplings, and wildlife ranging from butterflies to birds to rabbits.

Without the benefit of guidance from a higher power (or even a helpful omnipotent narrator) I began to collect things that might be useful. The branches of the saplings broke away easily enough, and one of the many rocks strewn about turned out to be flint – bound to the branches using some of the aforementioned grass, it created a sort of crude axe. My first tool.

Day 1 – Afternoon.

As the sun descended lower in the evening sky, the gaunt man’s advice grew more poignant – my stomach grumbled. Foraging for berries and wild carrots remedied my hunger for the moment, but as the night crept ever closer, I knew I would need a fire to chase away the shadows – and whatever might lurk in them.

Day 1 – Night.

I gathered enough wood and grass to form a campfire, then fed it logs from nearby trees to keep the flames high. In the darkness, I heard things moving around – I fed another log to the fire.

Day 2 – Morning.

I rose with the dawn, determined after a fitful night’s sleep to get something done to better my circumstances. I made a pickaxe out of more flint and twigs – it would be useful for chipping away at the many boulders in the area. And with that, I had an idea. I would need to build better tools – and a shelter – if I was going to survive in this strange place. So I set out, determined to find enough components to build what I’d need. A road, spied through the trees, led to the North and South – I chose North.

The road passed by a series of headstones – a small, makeshift graveyard, likely full of the people that came before me. Between the graves, a small glimmer – no, two – caught my eye. Wary of ghosts but more curious, I stepped into the graveyard and plucked the shiny objects from the gravedirt. Gold! Two gold nuggets, just sitting there in a graveyard! Confused but not one to complain about good fortune, I pocketed the nuggets and continued down the road, hoping to find some civilization.

Day 2 – Afternoon.

No such luck.

Instead of a town, coming around the bend in the road I found the trees lined with thick strands of spider silk, forming massive webs. Giant egg sacs pulsated from within the webs, and to my horror hatchlings the size of my head extricated themselves from the silk before my eyes. With an inhuman screech, they skittered toward me on eight gooey legs.

In a panic, I swung my primitive axe repeatedly, striking the spiders over and over until they lay dead, carapaces shattered into a dozen and more pieces. The egg sacs pulsated wildly, almost as if they sensed the demise of their brood. I crushed them into mush, and the road was quiet once more. Thinking, perhaps that some of the remains might be useful, I gathered the silk and spider meat and carried on.

Having found what I needed to build my crafting station, I found a small copse of trees and set about clearing the area. Here I built the station, tucking away the remaining lumber for safe keeping, and began my research. Thoroughly inspired by the result, I began to explore other ideas – armor made from bundles of the grass that grew so plentifully around my camp, a chest made of lumber to store my components, a wall to keep unwanted creatures away.

Day 2 – Night.

So lost was I in my inventing fervor that I barely noticed when the sun drooped over the horizon. I turned to my stockpile of components and reached for the grass I needed to kindle my campfire, only to find I had used the last of it to make my armor.

And as the last sliver of daylight vanishes behind the horizon, I listen to the beings in the dark growing ever closer. They are coming for me.

Impressions of Don’t Starve

Don’t Starve is a survival-crafting game from KLEI Entertainment. In it, the goal is to stay alive as long as humanly possible, taking into account Hunger, Sanity and Health as you brave the unknown wilderness in which you wake up. Along the way you will research and build new tools and equipment to help you survive.

The graphics in the game are top-notch. Beautiful, hand-drawn graphics with a 2D feel, but in a 3D world. It’s a unique style that really leaves an impression. It’s very Tim Burton-y in a way, calling back to Nightmare Before Christmas in its design. There were a couple graphical glitches on my LG V30, though, with the game’s UI not scaling properly and leaving a couple of the buttons bleeding off the screen with no way to fix it without manually changing the resolution of my phone – which, luckily, is an option in the V30’s menus.

When you load up Don’t Starve, a haunting, brassy melody greets you – and sets the tone for the rest of the game. In addition to its absolutely beautiful graphics, KLEI’s signature game also features fantastic sound design. It doesn’t feature a full voice-over, but the Peanuts-esque whomp-whomp sounds characters make is oddly perfect for the setting.

Gameplay-wise, Don’t Starve gives no help; no tutorial, no hand-holding, not even an explanation of the controls. I found the lack of a tutorial to be jarring, but immersive – when you know as little as the main character, it really embeds you in the role. Exploring the world and figuring out the mechanics is half the charm of the game, as long as you’re ready for it. If you aren’t, it can be quite frustrating – consider yourself warned.

Value

Don’t Starve is $4.99 on the Google Play Store. While that may seem steep for a mobile game, it should be noted that the same game on Steam or Consoles costs up to $14.99 – the mobile game is a bargain, by comparison.

Pre-order your Microsoft Surface Pro with LTE for always-on internet

Microsoft’s Surface Pro is perhaps the most iconic detachable tablet 2-in-1 around, which makes sense given that it essentially defined the market when it was first introduced in 2013. The latest version updated the pen technology, improved performance, and refined the design, making it our favorite overall 2-in-1. It really lacked one important feature, always-on connectivity, and Microsoft is resolving that with the new Surface Pro with LTE version that is now widely available for pre-order.

As The Verge reports, the machine was made available to business customers in December. If you head over to the Microsoft Store, you will see that you can now enter in your order for one of the two versions that will make their way to the market. There will be two models, one with 4GB of RAM and a 128GB PCIe solid-state drive (SSD) for $1,150 and one with twice the RAM and storage for $1,450. Both will be equipped with a seventh-generation Intel Core i5 processor, and it’s the more powerful version that is currently listed for pre-order.

Here are the complete specifications for the Surface Pro:

Dimensions
11.5 x 7.93 x 0.33 in

Weight
1.70 pounds (tablet only)

Keyboard
Signature Type Cover optional

Processor
Seventh-generation Intel Core i5

RAM
4GB or 8GB RAM

Graphics
Intel UHD 620

Display
12.3-inch PixelSense display

Resolution
2,736 x 1,824 or 267 PPI

Storage
128GB or 256GB PCIe SSD

Networking
802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1

Connectivity
USB-A 3.0, Surface Connect port, mini-DisplayPort, microSD card reader, 3.5mm combo jack

Windows Hello
Infrared camera

Operating System
Windows 10

Battery
45 watt-hour

Price
$1,150

Availability
Pre-order

Review
4 out of 5 stars

Of course, you will likely want to pick up a Surface Pen for $100 and a Signature Type Cover for $160. Unfortunately, neither of them are included with the Surface Pro itself and the keyboard, in particular, is a vital component if you want to use the tablet as more of a traditional laptop.

The LTE configurations are great options for anyone who needs to be highly mobile, given the 2-in-1’s excellent battery life and overall solid productivity performance. And if you work in quiet environments, never fear — the LTE configurations are also fanless, meaning they’re completely silent even while working hard. The additional LTE Advanced connectivity means that you will be able to stay connected to the network anywhere you go.

If you order today, you will receive your Surface Pro with LTE Advanced by May 1.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Amazon is blowing out prices on the original Surface Book, starts at $790
• The best laptops for video editing
• Asus ZenBook 13 vs. Dell XPS 13
• Samsung Notebook 9 Pen vs. Pixelbook
• Dell XPS 13 vs. Dell XPS 15 2-in-1

Clean your gear with a 24-pack of microfiber cleaning cloths for just $10

Great cloths for electronics, glass, kitchen counters. You name it.

The Zwipes 24-pack of microfiber cleaning cloths is down to $9.99 on Amazon. These same cloths were selling above $16 in early February, and this drop is the lowest we’ve seen since August. At this price point, the 24-pack is actually cheaper than the 12-pack.

Being microfiber means you can use these cloths just about anywhere without fear of scratches. They are lint-free, streak-free and non-abrasive. They’re also washable and can be reused hundreds of times. Users give them 4.6 stars based on more than 4,700 reviews.

See on Amazon

Nest Thermostat Gen 1 through Gen 3 and Nest E: Comparison and main differences

See what changed from the first Nest to the current model.

Nest is a company that’s been around a while and since the debut in 2011, there have been three generations of hardware. Because a thermostat is something we tend to keep once we buy one there are plenty of older generation units in use and for sale used. While the changes between them aren’t as drastic as what we would see in a smartphone, there are some differences worth talking about.

We’ll start by talking about what hasn’t changed: the overall user experience. When Google bought Nest Labs many were worried that there would be significant “over-engineering” and extra features added that take away from the simple and efficient experience Next delivers. Thankfully, that didn’t happen and using a first generation Nest feels very much like using a third generation Nest, even though there are some substantial changes in functionality and compatibility.

Which Nest do I have?

Each generation has a different diameter and thickness, though the differences are very slight. One of the external differences you can easily see is in the trim ring. A gen 1 Nest has a two part ring in stainless steel, and a gen 3 Nest can have a copper, white or black ring. Another external difference is the size of the display, with the generation 3 Nest having a larger (.5 inch difference in diameter) touch screen that the previous models.

You don’t have to break out any measuring tools to tell which Nest is on your wall. Just open the Nest app, choose your thermostat and in the upper right corner tap the gear icon to open the settings. Under Technical Info you’ll see the Display Model listing. The first digit in the model number corresponds with the hardware version.

Here is a quick overview of the main differences

Changes in gen 2

The biggest difference from the first generation to the second was equipment support. When Nest first arrived it was compatible with approximately 75% of heating and cooling systems in use. That means there were a sizeable number of people who couldn’t use a Nest. Gen 2 brought that number to 95% by adding an extra pair of connectors. The new inputs added support for hybrid heat installations and humidistats in addition to 1-2 stage cooling and 1-3 stage heating systems. One last change made it possible to control 24 volts equipment without a common wire back to the thermostat. These changes made it possible to use a Nest thermostat on advanced HVAC systems found in the newest homes.

Generation 2 brought support for more advanced installations and a more custom setup.

Gen 2 Nest thermostats also introduced System Match. System Match determines the wiring connection then asks you a few questions during the installation. This lets Nest tune other features specifically for your setup rather than treat every installation as a standard forced-air system and makes us more comfortable while saving money.

Additional features introduced with gen 2 include Early On mode for cold mornings, filter change reminders and a True Radiant mode that helps the thermostat determine exactly how much heat is being created.

Changes in gen 3

The biggest visible difference between previous models and the generation 3 model is the display. With gen 3 we see a bigger 480 by 480 touchscreen at 229 pixels per inch. This makes it easier to see information across the room so you don’t need to open the app on your phone or tablet.

Generation 3 brings a better display and support for water boilers as well as more colors.

Not readily seen but more important are some additional features. Gen 3 Nests can control a water boiler if you have one in your HVAC system. Just like other environmental controls through Nest software you can set limits and schedules for when the boiler is heated and a peak water setting is useful as an override if you have guests or need to use some extra hot water.

Gen 3 also has what Nest calls Farsight. Using special sensors your thermostat can tell when someone enters a room or walks past from up to 5 meters away. There are several things you can display on the screen when a person is sensed, including a clock or a weather widget. Nest users coming home from work can see the current indoor temperature as soon as they walk into the house. You’ll know at a glance if you need to adjust the temperature if you arrive earlier than scheduled.

See at Amazon

The Nest E

In 2017 Nest debut the newest model in the thermostat line, the Nest E. The most notable change from the Learning Thermostat model is, of course, the price, but there a few other differences between the gen 3 Learning Thermostat and the Thermostat E that you need to know about.

Industrial design versus minimalism

The design shows some obvious differences as well as two that aren’t quite so obvious. The Learning Thermostat comes with multiple color options for the metal trim ring, while the Thermostat E comes in plastic white only. The display on the Thermostat E is smaller in both physical size and resolution, but it’s also covered with a polarized barrier that hides the edge of the display and slightly blurs the display. This helps the thermostat look like it blends into your wall a bit better, and the effect is really pleasing — I wish my Learning Thermostat was built to look this way.

There is no Farsight support

As far as features go, the Thermostat E does everything the Learning Thermostat does except support Farsight. Farsight is the feature that allows the Learning Thermostat to detect and analyze motion at a distance. The display will light up when it notices you walk by, and the Learning Thermostat has a significantly longer range because of Farsight.

Farsight does more than light up the screen. It’s also used to know when you or anyone else is in the house versus when you’re away, and that’s a big part of the automatic learning a Nest is capable of. It’s also a hindrance if you use a manually set schedule and have pets who can be seen by Farsight and will override your set schedule or throw a wrench into the works when the Nest is learning on its own; it can think you’re home because it saw the dog mosey over to get a drink from his/her bowl.

Farsight is an amazing bit of tech, but it also isn’t perfect for everyone. Just know that it’s not an option on the Thermostat E before you buy one.

Compatibility

The gen 3 Learning Thermostat works with over 95% of all heating and cooling systems, including some pretty obscure methods like radiant geothermal passive air systems. With the Nest E, that’s been downgraded to “most 24V heating and cooling systems.”

The good news is that most really means most. The Nest E is going to work for almost every home in the Americas out of the box. A thermostat is really only a switch that toggles based on the temperature, and regardless of what style of environmental controls you have in your home, the thermostat is still just a low voltage switch. Where things get tricky is when you need to trigger multiple switches to turn on things like auxiliary equipment or multi-stage equipment, and the Nest E is going to be able to work with “most” of those systems, too.

No matter which Nest you’re thinking of buying, you should use this compatibility checker to know if it will work for you.

See at Best Buy

A Nest Thermostat is a great way to keep your house at the temperature you want and save money while doing it. It’s reasonably simple to install yourself (professional installation is about $125 if you want to go that way) and works with almost every heating and cooling setup. With full control from your phone or Amazon Echo and Google Home, it’s a great first step for an automated lifestyle.

Galaxy S9 vs Galaxy S9+: Which is best for VR?

The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ have top of the line specs, but they have different advantages when it comes to VR.

Samsung’s Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ feature top of the line specs, beautiful designs, and improve upon the successful Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. While both of Samsung’s newest flagship devices have many similarities, there are some differences when it comes to using them with a Gear VR. There are pros and cons to each so you’ll have to weigh them yourself before deciding which phone is best for you.

Samsung Galaxy S9 vs. Galaxy S9+: Which should you buy?

Pixel power

Samsung’s flagships are known for having beautiful displays, and the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ are no exceptions. Both have 2960×1440 pixel displays. But since the phones are different sizes, the pixel densities differ. The Galaxy S9 has a pixel density of 570 pixels per inch while the Galaxy S9+ has a pixel density of 529 pixels per inch. This isn’t as noticeable when you’re using your phone in your hand, but is a bigger deal when using your phone in the Gear VR.

When using a phone with a Gear VR, you can see what’s called “the screen door effect” where you see grid lines from the display of your phone. While Oculus has made efforts to lessen this effect, it’s more pronounced on devices with lower pixel densities. If you want the absolute best image quality in Gear VR, you should look at the Galaxy S9.

Battery Life

Some of the factors that affect battery life for handheld usage of phones don’t affect phones while in VR. When you place your phone into the Gear VR, a large portion of the screen turns black since the VR experience only relies on the two circles that are on your screen. Since the Galaxy S9 and S9+ both have AMOLED displays, these black pixels don’t drain battery life which means the larger screen of the Galaxy S9+ isn’t a battery drain in VR. These phones don’t have the exact same amount of screen used while in VR, but it’s close enough that the battery drain of VR is about the same for each device.

This means that the largest factor for battery life using a Gear VR is the size of your phone’s battery. The Galaxy S9 has a 3000mAh battery while the Galaxy S9+ has a 3500mAH battery. This means that your VR sessions will drain last longer on the Galaxy S9+ unless you want to plug in your Gear VR while using it.

Everything you can do with the USB port on your Samsung Gear VR

Which is best for VR?

Both of these phones have the same processors, and many of the same internals which means the main deciding factors when it comes to using them with a Gear VR are pixel density and battery life.

The Galaxy S9 has a higher pixel density which will result in a more immersive VR experience, but its battery is smaller than the Galaxy S9+. Considering that these devices both support rapid charging and that you can plug your Gear VR in while using it, pixel density is probably more important than battery life.

While you’ll be able to enjoy VR using either the Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9+, the Galaxy S9 offers a better overall package when it comes to virtual reality.

Huawei Mate SE launches in the U.S. as a more powerful Honor 7X for $249

$50 more gets you an extra 1GB of RAM and twice as much storage.

If you want to buy a solid Android phone without spending a ton of cash, one of your best options is currently the Honor 7X. The 7X offers a modern design with commendable specs at a great price, and now U.S. consumers get to choose between it and its new cousin – the Huawei Mate SE.

For all intents and purposes, the Huawei Mate SE is the Honor 7X with slightly upgraded internals, a tweaked design for the rear camera housing, and Huawei branding in favor of Honor’s.

The Huawei Mate SE shares much of the Honor 7X’s spec sheet, including its 5.93-inch 1080p display with an 18:9 aspect ratio, Kirin 659 processor, 3,340 mAh battery, and 16MP + 2 MP rear camera combo. However, where the Honor 7X has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, the Huawei Mate SE bumps these up to 4GB and 64GB, respectively.

That extra RAM and storage will cost you, however. The Huawei Mate SE has a retail price of $249.99, but right now you can pick it up for $229.99 (for comparison’s sake, the Honor 7X costs $199.99). The extra storage isn’t too much of a concern considering that the Honor 7X’s can be expanded with a microSD card, but if you’re a heavy multi-tasker, that extra RAM could come in handy.

See at Amazon

Grab Cree’s connected smart bulbs for just $11 each at Amazon

Everything gets smarter.

Gone are the days of going broke while outfitting your home with smart lights. Right now you can pick up Cree’s dimmable smart bulbs for just $11.40 each, a savings of just over $4.

These connected dimmable LED smart lights can be controlled using just your voice with Amazon’s Alexa-enabled products like the Echo Dot. They are 60W equivalents, meaning they are plenty bright to illuminate your room, but can also be dimmed to help set the mood if you wish.

Odds are you’ll want more of these once you get your first one set up, so why not pick up this 6-pack for just under $69 now.

See at Amazon

Best Accessories for Razer Phone

Looking to accessorize your Razer Phone? Here’s a good place to start.

What can turn a good phone experience into a great phone experience is often what else you can add to it. You have to accessorize!

In the case of the Razer Phone, one of our current favorites, there are some great accessories you can pair it with to really help you get the most from the phone.

Here, we’ve rounded up some of the best ones that are worth your time.

Razer Rugged Case

Don’t let the name fool you into thinking this is some gargantuan monstrosity that’ll make your already large phone even larger. The Rugged Case by Razer is tough, and it’ll take care of the phone, but calling it truly rugged is a stretch.

What it is, is probably the nicest case you’ll find for the Razer Phone right now. On the outside, it’s a tough polycarbonate, and on the inside a soft (and very green) TPU lining.

It protects the whole top of the phone along with both sides bar cutouts for the power button and the volume keys. The entire bottom is open, which is good because my experience with cases has had mixed results in the USB-C-to-3.5mm adapter fitting properly with cases that just offer a small cutout around the charging port.

It’s a little pricey at $40, but it looks great and naturally you’ll find Razer’s familiar logo on the back.

See at Razer

Anker PowerCore II 10,000mAh battery pack

With a 4,000mAh battery inside the Razer Phone, it’s not that likely you’ll be going hunting for a charger before the end of the day. But, if you’re a mobile gamer that’s going to be away from an outlet for some time, you might need a little top up lest your VainGlory grind be interrupted.

The Razer Phone supports QuickCharge 4.0, but there don’t seem to be any battery packs out there built for this yet. Instead, you should turn to a respected brand, and Anker’s PowerCore batteries are about the best you can buy.

This 10000mAh battery pack is far from the biggest you can get, but it’ll charge your Razer Phone twice, has a high power output and most of all, is small enough to fit in a pocket. And with a QuickCharge wall adapter, you can charge the whole thing back up in just 4 hours. And it’s only $30.

See at Amazon

Razer Hammerhead USB-C headphones

With no 3.5mm jack on the Razer Phone, you’ll be living that dongle life if you want to hook up your favorite set of headphones. But however good the THX DAC in the dongle may be, it’s still something you can, and probably will, lose pretty easily.

An alternative is to get a set of USB-C powered headphones and Razer makes its own that sound pretty darn good. They’re comfortable, with a selection of tips to get a good fit, offer a decent amount of passive sound isolation, an inline remote, tangle-free cable and an included carry case. Oh, and they light up.

They’re a fairly hefty investment at $80 but offer a great package and are about 100 times more convenient than carrying a dongle.

More: Razer Hammerhead USB-C review

See at Razer

Samsung 128GB MicroSD

64GB of internal storage is great, and it’s probably the minimum you’d expect to find in a high-end phone right now, but when it comes to storage, can you ever really have enough?

The Razer Phone accepts a microSD card and while there are a ton out there and frequent deals, one brand I always come back to is Samsung.

This 128GB microSD card will add twice as much storage again to your Razer Phone for a small outlay of just $40. And with 100MB/s and 90MB/s read and write speeds, it’s got the performance to match your superfast phone.

See at Amazon

8Bitdo SF30 Pro controller

If you bought a Razer Phone there’s a good chance you like to game. There are some tremendous games out there with superb touchscreen controls, but sometimes, you just want a controller.

One of the best options you can get right now to use with a mobile device is the 8Bitdo SF30 Pro. What makes it so good? It’s basically a clone of the legendary SNES controller but with a modern day upgrade, so you get triggers and a pair of analog sticks. But it feels mostly like the original, and that’s just great.

There’s an optional phone clip to mount the phone to the controller, but if you use it with the Razer Phone you may have to put the phone off center so as not to interfere with the volume buttons.

It also comes in two color schemes: Purple to match the NA model SNES and multi-colored to match Japan and Europe. Both are $50 a piece but they can be used with a PC, Mac or iOS device as well as your Razer Phone, so they’re really versatile controllers.

See at Amazon

Aukey braided USB-C Cable

Yawn, a USB cable? I don’t care if it is braided.

If this is your reaction, don’t be too hasty. The Razer Phone comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable in the box that’s perfectly fine for charging it from the included wall adapter. But what if you want to charge from your PC or laptop, or a portable battery pack?

In most of these cases right now you probably don’t have USB-C ports available, and even if you do, having additional cables is always useful. In this case, it comes from a respectable brand, Aukey, only costs $8 and means you can plug your phone into anything with a normal USB-A port.

See at Amazon

BlackBerry sues Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp for patent infringements

Facebook will be contesting the suit.

Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are three of the biggest names in the social media space, and they’re all being sued by BlackBerry for infringing on patents the company holds for its BlackBerry Messenger app.

BlackBerry officially filed the lawsuit on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA, and the company is requesting that the claims are heard by a jury in court.

The lawsuit measures in at a hefty 117-pages, and it claims that Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp:

Created mobile messaging applications that co-opt BlackBerry’s innovations, using a number of the innovative security, user interface, and functionality enhancing features that made BlackBerry’s products such a critical and commercial success in the first place.

Facebook has already announced that it’ll be contesting the lawsuit, with the company’s Deputy General Counsel, Paul Grewal, saying:

BlackBerry’s suit sadly reflects the current state of its messaging business. Having abandoned its efforts to innovate, BlackBerry is now looking to tax the innovation of others. We intend to fight.

What do you expect to come out of this?

BlackBerry KEYone

• BlackBerry KEYone review
• KEYone vs. Priv: Battle of the BlackBerry keyboards
• BlackBerry KEYone specs
• The latest KEYone news
• Join the discussion in the forums

Amazon
Best Buy
BlackBerry Mobile

FCC proposes $954 million to restore Puerto Rico’s telecom networks

The FCC is ready to do more to help Hurricane Maria victims beyond a task force and short-term cash infusions. Chairman Ajit Pai has proposed spending a total of $954 million to both fix and expand telecom networks in both Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The measure would offer an extra $64 million in near-term recovery, but would also include $631 million to repair and grow wired broadband as well as $259 million to improve LTE data.

As to how the agency would pay for all this? There would be $256 million in truly new funding, but the FCC would turn the advanced funding from 2017 into extra funding by declining to offset that financing against future universal service support payments. It would also repurpose universal service support that was already being directed toward the stricken areas.

If the proposal goes forward, it could be helpful in a country whose telecom networks weren’t on the cutting edge before Maria struck. With that said, it’s not hard to raise questions. Why are longer-term plans only coming up half a year after the hurricane? And wouldn’t it be better to offer funding on top of universal service support, rather than replace it? The long-term funding should be helpful — it’s just a question of whether or not it’s as helpful as it could be.

Source: FCC