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How Big Telecom Smothers Municipal Broadband

Posted by Soulskill on from the can't-even-trust-the-huge-soulless-corporations-anymore dept.

Rick Zeman writes: The Center for Public Integrity has a comprehensive article showing how Big Telecom (aka, AT&T, Comcast, Charter, Time Warner) use lobbyists, paid-for politicians, and lawsuits (both actual and the threat thereof) in their efforts to kill municipal broadband. From the article: "The companies have also used traditional campaign tactics such as newspaper ads, push polls, direct mail and door-to-door canvassing to block municipal networks. And they've tried to undermine the appetite for municipal broadband by paying for research from think tanks and front groups to portray the networks as unreliable and costly."

4 of 111 comments (clear)

  1. This Just In! by pwnyxpress · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Group in power tries to maintain power...story at 11.

    1. Re:This Just In! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      There is only one reason for the government to step in: make it easier for smaller ISPs to start shop. I'd love to start a small ISP in my area, but it is practically impossible.

      No, there is only one real reason for the government to step in: To serve the interests of its citizens.

      You may argue that smaller ISPs are in the interests of the citizenry, that's certainly reasonable enough to assert.

      But never forget why it's done.

  2. I don't know what's scarier about this article by timrod · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The fact that a 67-year-old grandmother from Tennessee has more progressive views on municipal internet than a large portion of the rest of the country, or that AT&T stepped in and threatened a 67-year-old grandmother over her attempt to provide municipal internet to her community.

    1. Re:I don't know what's scarier about this article by AnontheDestroyer · · Score: 5, Insightful

      She doesn't have more progressive views than most in the country. This is yet another issue that proves the country is an plutocracy rather than a democracy. In this instance, a few corporations (who Republicans will have you believe are, "people") are buying up politicians and subverting the will of the masses.

      It just happens to be one of the more glaring flaws with our campaign finance and electoral systems. And it still can't be fixed.