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Bill Would Reverse Bans On Municipal Broadband

Yuppie writes "A bill introduced to the House this week would overturn bans that currently exist in several states that forbid cities and towns building and deploying their own broadband networks. The big telecoms may not be be too happy about the bill, however: 'The telecoms have historically argued that municipalities that own and operate — or even build and lease — broadband networks could give themselves preferential treatment. The Act anticipates that argument with a section on "competition neutrality." Public providers would be banned from giving themselves any "regulatory preference," which should create a level playing field for all broadband providers. Municipalities interested in getting into the broadband business would also have to solicit feedback from the private sector on planned deployments.' The full text of the bill (pdf) is available from Rep. Boucher's website."

3 of 157 comments (clear)

  1. Commie! by gowen · · Score: 5, Funny

    Goddamn activist legislators preventing ordinary Americans being price gouged by ISPs.

    Don't they know that that's SOCIALISM? And SOCIALISM is not just automatically bad, but Anti-American(TM) even when its not.

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    Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.
  2. Re:Oh noes! by Adriax · · Score: 3, Funny

    Price drops? Hell no, 10% across the board price jump to cover "losses due to unfair/unconstitutional competition" and add an extra year to contract lock-ins.

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    I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!
  3. Mod Parent Funny by mvdwege · · Score: 2, Funny

    Telecom is extremely competitive

    You owe me a new keyboard.

    Mart
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    "I know I will be modded down for this": where's the option '-1, Asking for it'?