I see in the news that Rep. Marsha Blackburn is going to offer an amendment that would prevent funding of any effort by the FCC to preempt state laws that limit or prohibit municipal broadband adoption and/or expansion. I guess the the dark side of the Force got to her before common sense did. You know, Comcast. Verizon. AT&T. Yeah, those guys.
Here is what is happening. Over the last decade or so, cable and phone companies figured out that there is the possibility that cities and small towns could do an end run to get faster speeds at reasonable prices for internet access. More than 400 such places have done exactly that, causing some bruised egos and bleeding in the bottom line.
Why build better infrastructure for your customers to deal with competition when you can beat them into submission at the state legislature? That's what Marsha Blackburn's amendment is all about. It's about removing local choice from cities and towns for internet access.
The Coalition for Local Internet Choice, with Vint Cerf on the board of directors, has also taken notice and has urged a "NO" vote on this amendment.
If you want to see the end of the cable/telco duopoly on internet access, pick up the phone and call your representative in the House and provide them with an undiluted portion of your opinion and urge them to vote NO on the Blackburn Amendment.
No comments:
Post a Comment