Compton’s $104M fiber network project is billed as a fix for the “digital divide,” an outdated phrase which does no meaning in today's smart phone age. Critics say it's a costly PR move. Residents already have internet—just overpriced and neglected by ISPs. Funded by state bonds instead of the ISPs, federal passthroughs, and phone bill surcharges, the project risks becoming a taxpayer-funded bailout if the same providers win the contracts. The real issue isn’t access—it’s acc