4 ms·

It's not clear to me what problem taxpayer-subsidized broadband is intended to solve.

ryanhuff 15y ago
Just as the municipality has a role in basic infrastructure for delivering water and electricity, it should also be a participant in the delivery of data to citizens. To ban a city from taking ownership of an increasingly important utility is troubling.
dylanrw 15y ago
In eastern North Carolina especially, there are often times only one ISP in an area. Also, since it is often times rural in nature, said ISPs may not get you service because there aren't enough subscribers on your street. So there is that problem. The other is this: pricing. In my city there is only 2 broadband ISPs, both have settled on pretty high prices for pretty slow speeds but since they have absolutely no incentive to add value for their customers, it has stayed that way for the past 4 years. Those two issues essentially lead down the road to where if you are a business and you want decent broadband, you must pay out the nose, and even then you may not be able to get it due to the company not wanting to run the lines. If there was a municipal provider broadband could be more affordable, and more easily accessible. Ultimately helping to create an environment suitable to the education/tech industry.
- robflynn 15y ago
  My parents live in western NC and have the same problem. They're in a very rural area. Time Warner provides service down their road but stops about a half mile or mile from their home. Why? Because my parents are in a different county and their county has some sort of exclusivity thing with Northland Cable. Northland Cable has no desire to run service to my parents' street as I believe my parents are the only ones on their street that would use it. BellSouth/AT&T Does not provide DSL access to their area, either. Their only option is a private company providing wireless internet. They pay about $50/mo for 1mbit down/1mbit up. Quite often with 20-30% packet loss. More if it's raining.
- tzs 15y ago
  > Also, since it is often times rural in nature, said ISPs may not get you service because there aren't enough subscribers on your street. So there is that problem If only 10% or less are served in an area, than that is an "unserved area", and the bill does not apply there.
chopsueyar 15y ago
Why was this downvoted?

Just as the municipality has a role in basic infrastructure for delivering water and electricity, it should also be a participant in the delivery of data to citizens. To ban a city from taking ownership of an increasingly important utility is troubling.

dylanrw 15y ago

In eastern North Carolina especially, there are often times only one ISP in an area. Also, since it is often times rural in nature, said ISPs may not get you service because there aren't enough subscribers on your street. So there is that problem. The other is this: pricing. In my city there is only 2 broadband ISPs, both have settled on pretty high prices for pretty slow speeds but since they have absolutely no incentive to add value for their customers, it has stayed that way for the past 4 years. Those two issues essentially lead down the road to where if you are a business and you want decent broadband, you must pay out the nose, and even then you may not be able to get it due to the company not wanting to run the lines. If there was a municipal provider broadband could be more affordable, and more easily accessible. Ultimately helping to create an environment suitable to the education/tech industry.

robflynn 15y ago
My parents live in western NC and have the same problem. They're in a very rural area. Time Warner provides service down their road but stops about a half mile or mile from their home. Why? Because my parents are in a different county and their county has some sort of exclusivity thing with Northland Cable. Northland Cable has no desire to run service to my parents' street as I believe my parents are the only ones on their street that would use it. BellSouth/AT&T Does not provide DSL access to their area, either. Their only option is a private company providing wireless internet. They pay about $50/mo for 1mbit down/1mbit up. Quite often with 20-30% packet loss. More if it's raining.
tzs 15y ago
> Also, since it is often times rural in nature, said ISPs may not get you service because there aren't enough subscribers on your street. So there is that problem If only 10% or less are served in an area, than that is an "unserved area", and the bill does not apply there.

chopsueyar 15y ago

Why was this downvoted?