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Verizon-Pushed WiFi Bill Becomes Law in PA

Posted by timothy on from the how-a-bill-becomes-a-law-directors-cut dept.

Cryofan writes "A Wall Street Journal article (via freepress) tells the sad tale of how legislation barring PA municipalities from offering paid telecom services was signed into law. 'Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell said late Tuesday night that he had signed into law a large telecommunications bill placing severe restrictions on the ability of cities and towns to offer telecommunications services, an item that was heavily lobbied by Verizon Communications Inc. and other big telephone companies in similar legislation across the country.'" (Also mentioned last week.)

6 of 397 comments (clear)

  1. Re:FCC regulation? by Wesley+Felter · · Score: 3, Informative

    The PA state government can regulate PA city governments. The airwaves don't come into it.

  2. Skill OK for non-govt. groups by btrapp · · Score: 5, Informative

    The title of the article is a little misleading - while the ruling does bar municipalities creating their own networks, this does not stop private groups of citizens from creating municipal networks.

    So a motivated group of citizens can still create a city wide wireless network, it's just the local governments that can't. (I wonder if the govt. can give grants to the citizens... that'd be a nice work-around)

  3. Exception made for Philadelphia by trickofperspective · · Score: 5, Informative

    It should be noted that Philadelphia made a deal with Verizon that will allow it to go forward with their original city-wide WiFi rollout despite this law.

    ~Trick

  4. Typical by nunya_bizns · · Score: 4, Informative

    This is typical of Pennsylvania's legislature to bendover backwards in favor of Verizon.

    Verizon struck a landmark deal with the state of Pennsylvania to provide 45MB/s Symmetrical Fiber to the entire state. Verizon recieved over $2 Billion from Pennsylvania but Verizon did not come close to meeting its agreement - wire 50% of PA with 45MB/s Symmetrical Fiber by the end of 2004. The state allowed Verizon to completely ignore the original agreement and keep all the financial incentives. http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/30544

  5. Our politicians are bought and paid for.... by bill · · Score: 4, Informative
    http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/5009141.htm'

    Big donors power governor's big dance
    By John Sullivan and Rose Ciotta
    Inquirer Staff Writers

    Gov. Rendell raised more than $2.5 million from about 200 private donors for his inaugural bash, with much of the money flowing from corporations, trade unions, lawyers and professional associations.

    Contributors to the big party included many who gave heavily to Rendell's campaign for governor, some who supported his opponents, and others who have earned millions of dollars from state contracts.

    There were five categories of donors, with the highest, an elite list of 15, paying $50,000 each to earn "benefactor" status.

    Some of the top corporate donors included Comcast, Unisys, Verizon and SAP Public Services.

    Organizers of the event, which was estimated to cost more than $3 million, said donors did not earn special access to Rendell. [HAHAHA! yeah, right.]

  6. Re:FCC regulation? by nametaken · · Score: 4, Informative


    Apologize for responding to my own post, but I found the WSJ article I was reading the other day...

    "The telecom companies argue that it is unfair for them to have to compete against the government. They say that the legislation enables them to improve service to their customers by investing in their networks. "If we put that money at risk, and here comes government to compete against us, with advantages that government has -- not paying taxes, access to capital at good rates ... that severely limits the opportunity and limits our interest in taking the risk," says Eric Rabe, a spokesman for Verizon."

    I guess they kinda have a point.