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Verizon Permitted to Default on PA Broadband Deal
Rich writes "This is simply amazing to me. Broadband Reports has the latest chapter concerning Verizon's con of Pennsylvania unearthed by telco-critic Bruce Kushnick last February. A 1994 agreement between Verizon and the state of Pennsylvania paid dividends to Verizon in excess of $2.1 Billion in tax cuts and other deregulatory goodies over the years. Verizon's part of that deal was to deploy 45Mbps symmetrical fiber service fiber to PA homes and residents by 2015 (something they knew would never happen). This week the well-lobbied state has apparently voted to totally ignore the 1995 agreement, after Verizon's already walked away with the cash, leaving PA residents (who are already pretty low on the broadband food chain according to a new report) high and dry."
By about 9am, once their slow connections download Slashdot's pages.
just another day in the land of the *Free*
if you want "No More Hiroshimas" then I say "You First. No More Pearl Harbors."
How can mega-corporations remain competitive and maintain our free market economy without taxpayer support? Just look at what happens to countries like Japan, Korea and Taiwan where the telecoms are state owned monoplies. You wouldn't want to end up like that, would you?
However, before I condemn Verizon, I have some questions
Condemn first; ask questions later! This is Verizon we're talking about.
Where have you been for the past ten years. Big Corps. screwing the little guy, along with the government. Whoda'thunkit. Something needs to be changed here, and "being amazed" won't cut it. Protests, boycotts, and contacting your rep.!
Dear Constituent,
Thank you for writing Senator Buymeov regarding your concerns about corporate greed. Unfortunately, due to the large volume of mail received by the Senator each day, combined with his complete lack of caring about you, your mail was fed directly through this automated reply system, and then incinerated. No real person will ever read your message, and the Senator's staffers actually spend each Friday night eating Chinese takeout and laughing at the poor fuckers who write in thinking anyone cares.
The Senator cares deeply about lining his own pockets and understands the benefits of corporate greed first-hand. Last year, the Senator voted to elinimate consumer rights and managed to rake in a cool $4.5million in various "gifts" and campaign donations from corporate sponsors. Senator Buymeov will continue to work hard to ensure you have no voice in government.
Thank you again for contacting us -- your participation in our government is what makes life worth living! (HAHAhahahahah!)
Sincerely,
Fake signature of Senator Buymeov
Moderator hint: a comment is neither "Flamebait" nor "Troll" if it is true.
Guy walks through the Pennsylvania state house
"Can you pay me now?"
"Goooood."
Are you kidding? Voters don't really remember things like who got funding for a new park or school passed. They sure do remember who wasted $2Billion or raised their taxes though. I think the state probably had to raise state taxes to allow for the $1.45Billion in actual tax credits that Verizon got for providing the high-speed infrastructure.
The citizens of Pennsylvania have already paid and Verizon is trying to weasel out of having to provide what they promised. I hope the citizens make sure that Verizon "can hear them now".
Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. - Mark Twain