[TriLUG] OT: URGENT: H.129 to be heard in Thursday's Finance Committee!

[Mark Turner]

On 03/15/2011 04:21 PM, David Hostetler wrote:

> If that is wholly 100% true, then my issue with it goes down a little, but
> are we saying that the venture is profitable straight out of the gate?

All of this is fully vetted. Any municipality seeking large financingt 
must  first have the project thoroughly vetted by the state's Local 
Government Commission. They must produce a business plan like any other 
business.

Let's consider Wilson's Greenlight service. Greenlight has a business 
plan, and while the service is is not yet profitable it's on track to 
be. Greenlight's subscriber numbers are well above plan, according to 
the city. And as I mentioned in a previous post, that fiber can be used 
for many more decades - it's a long-term investment.

The city owns the infrastructure. City staffers (in Wilson, not New York 
or Bangalore) answer the phone and provide support. All of this is paid 
through revenue bonds.

If that weren't enough, the city leaders are on the hook and are 
directly answerable to the voting public. Try voting out the leadership 
of Time Warner Cable!

Again, it's all fully vetted. It's run like a business because it IS a 
business. Does that make sense?

Cheers,
Mark