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Americans Support Letting Cities Build Their Own Broadband Networks, Pew Finds (theverge.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the more-options-the-better dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Verge: Most Americans want to let local governments build out internet service if the internet providers in their area aren't any good, according to the Pew Research Center. In a phone survey of over 4,000 people last month, Pew found that 70 percent of respondents agreed that local governments should have the power to start their own high-speed networks if current offerings are "too expensive or not good enough." The results show an overwhelming support for municipal broadband -- networks that are at least somewhat run by local governments -- at a time when encouraging broadband buildout is a top federal priority. But despite the support, in much of the US, building out municipal networks just isn't possible. More than 20 states have passed laws banning local governments from starting their own broadband service, largely at the behest of internet providers that want to avoid competition at all cost. Though Pew's survey found some positive results for municipal broadband, it found less support for broadband subsidies for low-income homes. Under half of all Americans, 44 percent, said they supported subsidies, while nearly everyone else surveyed said they felt internet service "is affordable enough" that most households should be able to pay for it. (At the same time, nearly half of all people surveyed said they didn't know what speed of internet they received.)

6 of 113 comments (clear)

  1. Way overdue by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Broadband should be a utility this day and age.

    1. Re: Way overdue by PoopJuggler · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It should, but we'll be stuck in the 1950's for about four years. The Republicans will never ever let that happen. They only oppose government regulation when it doesn't favor the rich. Like those fat little pigs they always show in the cartoons. Our government is infested with people that are literally the embodiment of swine. What's worse is they pride themselves on their greed and hate and destructiveness like those are honorable things.

  2. No kidding by quonset · · Score: 5, Insightful

    With lower prices, faster speeds and better service, you bet people would want municipal broadband. We've all seen what happens when there is no competition: the U.S. still isn't in the top ten of industrialized nations when it comes to broadband speeds (page 12 of the report).

    I distinctly remember when my area got "competition" in broadband providers. Verizon came in and their CEO proudly stated, "We're not going to compete on price. We'll compete on quality." Well gee, thanks. To whom should I bend over for?

    If Republicans would stop preventing broadband competition we'd be far better off. And before anyone wants to whine about being partisan, go take a look at the places which have outlawed municipal broadband. See the pattern?

    1. Re:No kidding by SnowZero · · Score: 5, Insightful

      p>If Republicans would stop preventing broadband competition we'd be far better off. And before anyone wants to whine about being partisan, go take a look at the places which have outlawed municipal broadband. See the pattern?

      California, Colorado, Minnesota, Nevada, Washington, Virginia all voted blue in the last presidential election, and all have some form of restriction or hurdle for municipal broadband. That's about 30% of the states with such regulations. The pattern is that of corporate corruption of politics, which affects both parties but Republicans more. Since you have solidly blue states such as CA and WA in on this, you really can't call it just a Republican problem.

  3. Re:The government can supply everything for less by whoever57 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    In other news, monopolies will always be inefficient, provide lousy service and charge more.

    --
    The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
  4. Somewhat misleading headline by tomhath · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Pew found that 70 percent of respondents agreed that local governments should have the power to start their own high-speed networks if current offerings are “too expensive or not good enough...

    Under half of all Americans, 44 percent, said they supported subsidies, while nearly everyone else surveyed said they felt internet service “is affordable enough” that most households should be able to pay for it. (At the same time, nearly half of all people surveyed said they didn’t know what speed of internet they received.)”

    Read the headline carefully. The survey did not find that most people think their municipality should provide the service. What it did find is that people think that under certain circumstances a municipality should be allowed to provide the service.