theCLog

Yesterday, the N.C. legislature shelved a bill, until at least year, that would have, in effect, wrecked municipal broadband projects in the state. Here’s the background: As we’ve reported before, the U.S. ranks 16th in the world in broadband access per capita. Some local governments in America are setting up networks that will deliver fast internet access to areas that currently don’t have it. For most customers, the service will be either free or much cheaper than private providers would charge. Well, wait a minute, there, you damned socialists, say established, commercial internet service providers, such as your friend and mine, Time Warner Cable. They, along with Embarq, a subsidiary of Sprint, backed a bill that would have, in effect, destroyed local broadband projects by placing stringent restrictions of them, including forbidding local communities from taking advantage of Federal Broadband Stimulus Grants (a key part of President Obama’s plans to expand broadband coverage to under-served areas). The companies’ reason for backing the bill? No, you cynic, it’s not to preserve their monopolized industry — how could you think such a thing? — but rather, according to a TWC spokesperson, to “level the playing field between the public and private sectors.” Right. So much for the public interest, in other words, as long as the corporate profits keep rolling in. To circle back around to the main point, the N.C. legislature shelved the bill in question, and it won’t come back for consideration until next year at the earliest. Good for the General Assembly. Now let’s start seeing smaller N.C. communities get the broadband they want.

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