[TriLUG] mostly OT: Tech Lobbyist

[Danielle White via TriLUG]

Worse, for a long time in some areas those cable companies had exclusive contracts with the municipality. That was the reason that, when I lived in Pennsylvania, dialup was my only option through 2008: they refused to run the less-than-one mile of cable to get eight houses. A new neighbor contacted them and was told that he'd have to pay over $1,000 up front and they'd only commit to running it within the next five years.

They did, however, make sure to run three miles of cable at no direct charge to the subscriber to get a single customer: the mother of one of the supervisors (elected position for the township, equivalent to council member, basically.)

On September 25, 2015 4:58:51 PM EDT, Steve Litt via TriLUG <trilug at trilug.org> wrote:
>On Fri, 25 Sep 2015 11:32:10 -0400
>Scott Chilcote via TriLUG <trilug at trilug.org> wrote:
>
> 
>> I consider it egregious in the utmost that the commercial providers
>> have the unvarnished gall to turn around and lobby at the state
>> capitol to intercede, when they give communities no other option.
>> Internet access is no longer a luxury.  Welcome to the global
>> economy, where having the tools to compete is essential. 
>> 
>> It's unfortunate that not every town government makes good decisions
>> when it comes to building out broadband networks.  It's far more
>> unfortunate that they are given no other way to succeed.
>
>I agree and would add this:
>
>How often do you see municipalities install gas stations? Convenience
>stores? Movie theatres?
>
>Gas stations, convenience stores and movie theatres all have one thing
>in common: Lots of competition. Prices and quality are determined by a
>marketplace.
>
>Now ask yourself this: In how many places do you find more than two
>choices for >2Mbit down and >100Kbit up? In how many places do you find
>only one? In how many places are there zero, resulting in the need to
>download via satellite TV and upload via telephone, or go dialup?
>
>When lack of competition makes services so expensive and so bug-adorned
>that the municipality is tempted to give its citizens a better deal,
>that's a damnation on the local connectivity marketplace.
>
>SteveT
>
>Steve Litt 
>August 2015 featured book: Troubleshooting: Just the Facts
>http://www.troubleshooters.com/tjust
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