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Telco Sues Municipality For Laying Their Own Fiber
unreceivedpacket writes "Ars Technica reports that a company called TDS Telecom is attempting to sue the town of Monticello, Minnesota for deploying their own fiber network. Shortly after the town voted to lay the fiber, TDS Telecom filed suit and notified the town that they would be deploying their own fiber network. The telco has recently responded to Ars Technica, saying they only sued to save Monticello from itself, apparently feeling that the municipality is unprepared for the onerous costs of maintaining such a network, and would lack the expertise to do so."
I read TFA and I still have no idea what the legal basis of this claim is. Does anyone have any idea on what grounds they are suing?
On the basis that any suit will cost the town more than it will the telco, if not in dollars then in time. The article explains this quite clearly (make sure you read both relevant Arsicles).
The city decided to lay cable. Bridgewater Telephone interrupts, "Too bad, because that would put you in direct competition with our cable. The word `incumbent' is probably the reason this argument won't work. Bridgewater's cable did not exist at the time of the city's decision and, in fact, it does not exist now. But according to TFA you say you've read, that's the legal basis of the claim.
Revenue bonds.
The telco is saying that the town would not be able to -even- -think- about building a fiber network if it was taxpayers money footing the bill(many of whom may not utilize the service).
Because bonds are being used, and the business model pays for itself with little financial risk to the town, the telco is saying its an unfair business advantage.
Imagine that... a town with the intellect and means to provide a service the people actually want, and are willing to provide it the way the people actually want it.
suddenoutbreakofcommonsense
I hope the town wins. Hard, and fast.
Much of the populated areas of Monticello resemble an industrial park. Whoever is in control of that fiber is in for some serious cash from the plants that have setup shop there. This will be a damn interesting battle, the city will fight this tooth-and-nail.
I live in Big Lake, MN which is just a few miles away from Monticello, MN. The story misses a few things. First of all Monticello approached the Bridgewater to build the fiber network, and Bridgewater decided not to. So Monticello went ahead and decided to do itself. The second thing people should know is that Monticello does not have a normal small town finance system. Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant provides a huge cash influx to the city, allowing it to pursue large projects.
dont_forget
I Live in Monticello, Mn. and have been following this for some time. I'm fully in favor of this and believe it's in the best interest of the community. It'll benefit home users, but it's even more critical to attract big business and help grow the town.
Just a couple of things I want to set straight.
First, Monticello is being sued by Blackwater Communications (TDS) for using bonds to pay for the city fiber network. They can't stop the city from putting it in, but they're trying to make it painful. Originally it was to pay for itself and not cause additional taxes. The mayor has now openly said it may take taxes to do it, but the city will see it through.
Second is that several years ago, TDS, as well as the local cable co. were approached by the city to partner in this effort. Both flat out said no.
Third, only after the city was about to break ground did TDS decide to put in there own fiber network. Which by the way, I don't believe is truly fiber all the way to the wall. Seeing that the cities network fails is the only way to control pricing as the city had already stated what services would cost and trust me, it blew TDS out of the water!
Fourth, TDS has also begun a misleading campaign calling local residents, including myself, telling them about how the cities network will be under par and how business services are superior. Funny, cause I work in IT and am pretty technical; BS always smells! It's all about what "Joe Schmoe" doesn't know and how they usually believe what they are told. Oh ya, and the idiots accidentally called the mayor pitching the bull; oops! They've also started blanketing the neighborhoods with 1-year free broadband offers. Read the fine print cause if you bite your screwed! It's another way to lock things up by removing potential customers for the cities network. I get these adds in the mail literally every couple of days. I'm so sick of it I'm considering calling them and telling them not to mail me.
Personally I can't stand TDS anymore and won't even consider using them for anything EVER again. My land line with them has been dropped, my internet switched to cable (until the cities fiber is available), I use my cell and Skype. This is a prime example of corporate greed hurting the community!