North Carolina bill would prohibit cities from upgrading Internet access. (Charlotte: house, purchase) - City-Data Forum

DGarth08 · 03-30-2011, 08:02 PM

I've briefly read an article that talks about a bill in the North Carolina legislature that, if passed, would prevent communities from taking matters into their own hands and building advanced broadband networks. That would leave us all subject to the mercy of Time Warner and Comcast.

Of course, the bill is heavily supported by Time Warner.

Anyone have an additional info/links or knowledge on this bill/subject? How could the State Assembly even consider such legislation? (We could probably all guess why...) Personally, I was going to look into how Charlotte could invest in a state-of-the-art broadband network. (In a fiscally responsible manner, of course.

I belong to the Junior Chamber)

What is everyone's thoughts?

southbound_295 · 03-30-2011, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGarth08

I've briefly read an article that talks about a bill in the North Carolina legislature that, if passed, would prevent communities from taking matters into their own hands and building advanced broadband networks. That would leave us all subject to the mercy of Time Warner and Comcast.

Of course, the bill is heavily supported by Time Warner.

Anyone have an additional info/links or knowledge on this bill/subject? How could the State Assembly even consider such legislation? (We could probably all guess why...) Personally, I was going to look into how Charlotte could invest in a state-of-the-art broadband network. (In a fiscally responsible manner, of course.

I belong to the Junior Chamber)

What is everyone's thoughts?

I'm not at all happy about this, since Cleveland County is building a network & Kings Mountain is looking at extending this to residents. There's a thread on this on the state forum & it sounds shady, if what was posted there about this is true.

GCharlotte · 03-30-2011, 08:31 PM

It is HOUSE BILL 129

Here's one article: DailyTech - You've Got a Friend in Me: NC House Backs Big Telecom, Passes Anti-Municipal Internet Bill

The text of the bill is here: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions...PDF/H129v3.pdf

The title is: AN ACT TO PROTECT JOBS AND INVESTMENT BY REGULATING LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMPETITION WITH PRIVATE BUSINESS.

topchief1 · 03-30-2011, 09:20 PM

It's nice to see our politicians have the people's best interests in mind....

Nativechief · 03-30-2011, 10:18 PM

Believe me there are people working hard to make what we pay for internet use just like what we pay for gasoline.....You pay up at their set price or you do without....Greedonomics at its best.

thestem · 03-31-2011, 05:43 AM

Hopefully, if it passes the legislature, gets vetoed by the Governor. This folk, is what you get when you put people in office that only want to help big corporations...

Sepulgeek · 03-31-2011, 06:14 AM

It's not the job of the government to build/provide internet connections/access.

yantosh22 · 03-31-2011, 07:13 AM

Supposedly the bill is being put forth by heavy lobbing by AT&T and Time Warner Cable who didn't like the fact that Salisbury put in a municipal system that brings fiber to the home. Salisbury has higher Internet speeds and lower prices than either.

North Carolina House Passes Anti-Community Fiber Bill - Fourth Time May be a Charm for Time Warner Cable | DSLReports.com, ISP Information

Rampart2 · 03-31-2011, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sepulgeek

It's not the job of the government to build/provide internet connections/access.

Seems like the same people might argue against government spending...

I'd be all for a city/county/state funded system if it were going to pay for itself, but sadly, like everything else our government sticks it's nose in, we'll end up paying just as much if not more and the government goes in the hole further anyways..

Stripes17 · 03-31-2011, 11:06 AM

Like here in Mooresville where the citizens were hung out by the town for a $90M investment so they can play cable TV company. Yep, the town (and other nearby towns) bought the former Adelphia local assets. TWC had been the steward until the town made the purchase and everything was fine.

We already had a good cable structure in place that TWC was going to upgrade. Instead the town "leaders" (using the term loosely) saddled us with massive debt, duplicated everything that TWC had in place already (office, employees, vehicles, advertising, etc) and now TWC is in town competing with them anyway!

Governments should not be in competition for services like this with private companies. There is enough choice out there with TWC, Windstream, Dish, DirecTV, etc. that the town should not have gambled with our financial well-being.

I'd wish for this bill to pass, but some wheeling and dealing has already been done to exempt our Mickey Mouse cable company from enforcement. What a shame!