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The FCC Can't Help Cities Trapped By Predatory Internet Deals With Big Telecom

Posted by Soulskill on from the there-oughta-be-a-law dept.

Jason Koebler writes: At least 20 states have laws that make it illegal for communities to offer local government-owned high speed internet access. Wednesday, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler threw consumers a bone by suggesting that the agency could make it easier for cities to skirt those laws. That's a great first step — but many cities have locked themselves into telecom company-caused messes the FCC probably can't fix. The FCC's power becomes much less certain once you drill into the other major reason—besides state laws—why cities can't offer broadband to their constituents: local, long-term agreements with internet service providers.

6 of 93 comments (clear)

  1. A Question from a Stupid Foreigner. by newcastlejon · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If the FCC is seemingly so impotent to regulate the industry, just what the hell are you guys paying it to do?

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    If God forks the Universe every time you roll a die, he'd better have a damned good memory.
    1. Re:A Question from a Stupid Foreigner. by sexconker · · Score: 5, Interesting

      If the FCC is seemingly so impotent to regulate the industry, just what the hell are you guys paying it to do?

      Prevent breasts from being shown on TV.

    2. Re:A Question from a Stupid Foreigner. by Trepidity · · Score: 5, Interesting

      As with many things in the U.S., it boils down to the complex relationship between different levels of government. Telecom is regulated largely at the national level, but in part at the local level. The right to sign monopoly deals with local providers is one right that is delegated to local government, under current law anyway. So if a given local government actually signs such a deal, they're stuck with it.

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      10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
    3. Re:A Question from a Stupid Foreigner. by alen · · Score: 4, Informative

      a town or city signs a deal with a company to provide services to citizens with all kinds of conditions to protect both sides
      what is the FCC supposed to do about it? any town or city can pull out of the contract, they just have to pay up, lose revenue or whatever the contract says the terms are

      now this comcast/verizon vs netflix issue, that's a different story

  2. FCC - what it does by mveloso · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Title 47

    http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/te...

    I don't particularly want to understand the FCC's area of authority, so here is Title 47.

  3. politicians put the public over that barrel. Tea p by raymorris · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The local governments, the politicians, made those deals because it gave them what they want (campaign money). They aren't over a barrel, they are perfectly happy with the arrangement. When a citizens' group ASKS them what they think about the public getting screwed, they'll SAY they don't like it. They made the deal willingly, though. It's the public that they stuffed into the barrel.

    I'm not a tea party member, so maybe I shouldn't speak for them, but I'm pretty sure they are AGAINST having the government outlaw competition like this. I think the Tea Party way would be that anyone who wants to offer better, faster service should be allowed to do so, and the government shouldn't stop them. Currently, local governments outlaw competition. I don't think that's what Tea party people want.