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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.)

3 of 397 comments (clear)

  1. Play-by-Play by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Insightful
    as quoted from the Pay-Per-View Avarice Hour of Power

    Gov. Rendell: This bill is a piece of crap.
    Minion of Telecoms: We're rich
    Gov. Rendell: I cannot be bribed!
    Minion of Telecoms: Oh, we wouldn't dream of it!
    Gov. Rendell: Good to hear it, I'll just veto this sucker.
    Minion of Telecoms: We'll direct our considerable influence to your opponent in the next gubenatorial election.
    Gov. Rendell: ... ah yes, there's the line I sign on scrit-scrit-scrizzitz-scrit-scrut
    Minion of Telecoms: Good boy, here's a dog biscuit.
    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  2. Re:I see Verizon's point of view... by chris_mahan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Oh my God you are so right!

    I can't believe the government is funding public libraries, they're taking money from commercial bookstores. Like, OmiGod! And the streets! Woah, they should let go of city maintenance and allow the commercial road surfacing companies to fill in the potholes on the street... But wait, there's more! Why is the police allowed to operate, don't they know that they're taking money away from commercial security providers? Heck why do we have cities to begin with, we could just outsource everything to India...

    Wait...

    I'm dashing off to the patent office with a big grin on my face...

    --

    "Piter, too, is dead."

  3. Re:Ahhh, the essence of Capitalism... by kwiqsilver · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That's not competition, that's a tax-funded program. How is verizon (or any other carrier) supposed to compete against that? Verizon can't take the money from you against your will, like the government can. Verizon can't force you to be a customer.

    And when the big corporations lobby for preferential legislation (which they do frequently), it's not capitalism, it's socialism. In capitalism the government can't hinder or support any private entity: their fates are left to the market to decide.