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SBC Promotes Texas Anti-Wireless Bill
rhythmx writes "Details of this bill have been previously covered on Slashdot. SBC has since put up TV ads and a website saying that our telecom laws need to be changed. From their propaganda, "The Texas legislature has the opportunity to modernize telecom regulation and promote innovation to finally reach our goals for new technologies and enhanced consumer benefits." They hardy even mention the bill itself, basically only that it is "Good for Texas -- Good for Texans." This bill has already passed through the House and is now in the Texas state Senate."
of when SBC got the Illinois house and senate to draft, vote on, and enact a bill of their liking in less than a week. This was record time in our state. The amount of money this company dumps into state politics is so insane that they are entirely able to control the elected officials or fund the campaign of the person who will replace them in the next election.
> What's more is that SBC is at least partly correct
> when they state that it is unfair that some
> providers, such as themselves, are regulated while
> others, such as any new comer, are not. It is
> unfair.
Yet morally, they're on low ground. SBC is regulated for a reason. Care to explain to the readers why, without the spin?
The bill history for HB789 is interesting. Notably, it shows how quickly (and without a recorded vote so those of us who live in Texas can't even accuse our representatives of actually supporting this legislation) the bill passed.
Austin Wireless and Austin Wireless City both have coverage of what it means to Austin. The Save Muni Wireless group was put together in response to challenges like this; they include much better commentary on why HB789 is a bad idea than would be worth repeating here. If you really want to understand the issue, check some of these sites.
Even the High Tech Broadband Coalition (a group of telecom, hardware, and software companies) was against HB789.
Several local news stories:
For those in Texas who want this law changed, it's probably a good time to call or write your state Senator today before this bill sails through committee and a floor non-vote.
not to a hardline libertarian. To those people, if the free market can't do it, it's not worth doing. See also: Dale Gribble, King of the Hill.
"Full grassroots and PAC management functionality"
"Legislator targeting".
Run the online demo. Especially the "asset tracking system", which generates maps It looks like Hollywood's vision of something a corrupt organization would use. But it's real.
Didn't they do a survey a number of years ago that discovered that many people do not understand the connection between the government's money and taxes? There are people who think the government just has its own money to spend.
The same thing is happening in Tempe, AZ. A good friend lives there. The city, along with Arizona State U started offering free wifi.
From what I hear, the local phone co's have basically put a halt on rolling out DSL, and the cable company is talking about dropping broadband. So pretty soon, the only options for internet access will be the overtaxed, and frequently down WiFi, or dialing LD to get to AOL.
"How To Drive Away Business 101"
What happened? The governor still signed it. And you know what? He'll get reelected in spite of the fact that he gave away some control of our municipalities to corporations.
Conservatives are right when they say money is speech. It's the only speech politicians every listen to.
You have two hands and one brain, so always code twice as much as you think!
The bill says:
(b) A municipality may not offer to the public, directly or indirectly, wireless broadband communications services, including wireless fidelity , or Wi-Fi, services, unless the municipality was providing the service on or before September 1, 2006, or unless the municipality has filed with the commission before June 15, 2006, a statement of intent to provide the service that meets the requirements of Subsection (c) of this section.
So the existing municipal wi-fi systems can continue operating, and any cities that were mulling over the possibility of doing it had better get their lazy asses in motion and get their systems up and running within the next year, or at least file the paperwork declaring their intent to provide wi-fi by the grandfathering deadline.
Fine, they want to stop free access?! Fine, we can play this game.
If I owned a coffee shop and previously offered free WiFi access, then if this bill got passed I would charge....1 penny. And to boot, I would roll it up in the price of the coffee.
Life is not for the lazy.