New FCC proposals could supersede NC's ban on municipal internet. (Charlotte: 2015, appliances)

[Third Strike]

FCC plans to fight state laws restricting city-run internet access

For those of you who are not aware, the North Carolina General Assembly voted in 2011 to ban towns and cities from providing their own internet service to residents (outside of a couple of exceptions, like Wilson). With the new rules being proposed by the FCC, towns will once again be able to supply internet service to their citizens, especially in under-served areas. Between this, and Google's decision to expand Fiber in Charlotte and the Triangle, more people will have access to the internet and enjoy higher speeds.

[urbanmyth]

THANK GOD! This legislature has also mandated that textbooks be phased out of school starting in 2016 in exchange for electronic books. Rural kids without broadband....out of luck. Now, maybe, they will have shot.

[ZeusAV]

Great news. I've recently become fed up with Time Warner and their shoddy service but high prices. Would love to see their monopoly on the market broken up like what happened in Wilson.

[Boss]

Salisbury has there own very fast provider Fibrant

[TBonz]

Originally Posted by urbanmyth

THANK GOD! This legislature has also mandated that textbooks be phased out of school starting in 2016 in exchange for electronic books. Rural kids without broadband....out of luck. Now, maybe, they will have shot.

While I am all for making broadband widely available, it isn't necessary that they have broadband at home for electronic books...books and any other items that are required could be downloaded via the school's network and available with no connectivity at home.

That said, it is getting to the point where broadband is something that one would expect to be available in a home - just like power, appliances and indoor plumbing. While they aren't necessarily required, most people these days wouldn't consider a home without them...