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Getting Broadband To The Bayou

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the hoo-wee dept.

Caseylite points out an article in USA Today "about the struggle between the city of Lafayette, Louisiana and BellSouth. The big telecom objects to the city installing its own fiber-optic network, claiming unfair competition. The city says its goal is bringing high-speed data access to low income areas to break the poverty cycle, stating a link between broadband access and education and employment."

4 of 274 comments (clear)

  1. Two sides by SilverspurG · · Score: 5, Interesting

    On the one side is the innocent corporation which would never think to hold back service until the people are willing to pay through their teeth for it.

    On the other side is the innocent government which would never think to render everyone's communications legally monitorable.

    In the middle are all the people who don't know what the heck is going on but just want to amuse themselves on the network.

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  2. Unfair? by XsynackX · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The only thing that is unfair about this is how companies like BellSouth are allowed to actually slow down processes that are helping people just so they can try to get a piece of the pie. I am sick and tired of companies trying to put their own profits before the greater good of society.

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  3. Re:hmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I live in Lafayette, where this is occuring. The problem isn't that the companies have direct control over what goes on in creating the network, but they do have the ability to run commericals nonstop badmouthing the city's plans. Bellsouth is partnering with Cox Communications, which is the city's cable provider. So, as you can imagine, running advertisements saying that the city's plans are bad doesn't cost them very much.

  4. Oh the Irony by TubeSteak · · Score: 5, Interesting
    The worst part about the Telco situation is that they said they would deploy fiber optics door-to-door and then ADDED ON EXTRA FEES so that they could "afford" it

    How The Bells Stole America's Digital Future: Part I

    And I'm just going to give a token mention to the miles and miles of unlit (dark) fiber lying around unused because it's "owned" by the phone company. And by owned I mean the state practically gave it to them through tax breaks.

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