5 ms·

How can they block municipal fiber isps ? Or prevent epb from selling services ?

jzb 3y ago
Many states have laws blocking municipal broadband [1] -- basically regulatory capture in its most blatant. [1] https://broadbandnow.com/report/municipal-broadband-roadblocks https://broadbandnow.com/report/municipal-broadband-roadbloc...
- surge 3y ago
  The same happened in my state.
thinkingtoilet 3y ago
I'm sure it's within their regulatory laws to determine what can be rolled out where. Of course, the real question is where are all those free market Republicans in Tennessee when it comes time for the market to compete with their donors?
- ProllyInfamous 3y ago
  >where are all those free market Republicans in Tennessee when it comes time for the market to compete with their donors? "Privatize profits, subsidize losses." —My neighbor Tennesseans (when I used to live on Lookout).
- freedomben 3y ago
  I've lived in a lot of red states, and the same thing repeatedly happens. I've given up trying to change things. For every 1 person who will care, there are 25 who just check that there is an "R" next to the name of the person. Ignorant votes make educated votes irrelevant.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
- Spivak 3y ago
  > the real question is where are all those free market Republicans Blocking public services that naturally have a pricing advantage over private businesses because they're supported by tax dollars. Like if you're gonna drag Republicans for not living up to their free market ideals this really isn't what you should point to. People said the same thing when they opposed the public option in the '00's and the rationale was the same. "Competing" with government services is just roundabout price controls. I'm zero percent opposed to such things when the market fails to sort itself out but I can see why strict free market adherents wouldn't be on board.
  - surge 3y ago
    They weren't using tax dollars. The service is paid for by the bills, its simply not for profit, it just treats the fiber lines like roads and side walks, a common public good. You can even choose your own ISP.
  - thinkingtoilet 3y ago
    ISPs and Pharma companies get subsidies from the government, I don't think your argument holds up here. Just another area that Republicans are happy to be hypocrites on. I would love to see Republicans set out "small government" legislation that removes subsidies to the core businesses in their states but you and I both know that will never happen. A child getting food stamps is an example of our 'welfare state' but it's never the billions that go to agriculture or pharma companies.
    - ProllyInfamous 3y ago
      I laugh often knowing that WalMart is the largest single recipient of "corporate welfare" in this fine state/country. What a term/fact. When my black nephew started working there, they walked him through "applying for foodstamps" as part of his training/onboarding.
  - p_j_w 3y ago
    >Blocking public services that naturally have a pricing advantage over private businesses because they're supported by tax dollars. That's the stated rationale. The actual reason is that the entirety of Republican economic ideology revolves around the idea that the government isn't capable of providing better service than private companies and municipal broadband shows this to be a complete lie.
- bigstrat2003 3y ago
  If you think Democrats aren't just as corrupt and willing to pass bills that are bad for the people but good for their donors, I have a bridge in Arizona to sell you. The problem here is that the vast majority of public officials are corrupt, not which party they happen to run with.
  - ProllyInfamous 3y ago
    >THE PROBLEM HERE IS THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS ARE CORRUPT Again, for the people in the back! BRING BACK RANK-CHOICE VOTING (To Tennessee, specifically!)
  - thinkingtoilet 3y ago
    Did I say that? The conversation here was about municipal broadband in Tennessee. Whataboutism isn't helpful for any discussion.
ProllyInfamous 3y ago
The reason Chattanooga is even allowed to offer fiber internet service is that TECHNICALLY it is for monitoring their power delivery infrastructure, down to each household. Customer internet is just an "additional benefit." When your power disconnect here (without explanation), somebody from the power company shows up within the hour (to figure out why, then replace any broken hardware). But this is rare, as the "auto switchers" can typically reroute blackouts, restoring service usually within seconds.
smelendez 3y ago
US states typically can organize their municipalities, school districts, fire departments, public power agencies, etc. however they want. If the state constitution doesn’t say otherwise, the legislature can just pass a law saying municipalities can’t get into the internet business and that’s that. This comes up a lot with liberal cities in conservative states.

jzb 3y ago

Many states have laws blocking municipal broadband [1] -- basically regulatory capture in its most blatant. [1] https://broadbandnow.com/report/municipal-broadband-roadblocks https://broadbandnow.com/report/municipal-broadband-roadbloc...

surge 3y ago
The same happened in my state.

thinkingtoilet 3y ago

I'm sure it's within their regulatory laws to determine what can be rolled out where. Of course, the real question is where are all those free market Republicans in Tennessee when it comes time for the market to compete with their donors?

ProllyInfamous 3y ago
>where are all those free market Republicans in Tennessee when it comes time for the market to compete with their donors? "Privatize profits, subsidize losses." —My neighbor Tennesseans (when I used to live on Lookout).
freedomben 3y ago
I've lived in a lot of red states, and the same thing repeatedly happens. I've given up trying to change things. For every 1 person who will care, there are 25 who just check that there is an "R" next to the name of the person. Ignorant votes make educated votes irrelevant.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
Spivak 3y ago
> the real question is where are all those free market Republicans Blocking public services that naturally have a pricing advantage over private businesses because they're supported by tax dollars. Like if you're gonna drag Republicans for not living up to their free market ideals this really isn't what you should point to. People said the same thing when they opposed the public option in the '00's and the rationale was the same. "Competing" with government services is just roundabout price controls. I'm zero percent opposed to such things when the market fails to sort itself out but I can see why strict free market adherents wouldn't be on board.
- surge 3y ago
  They weren't using tax dollars. The service is paid for by the bills, its simply not for profit, it just treats the fiber lines like roads and side walks, a common public good. You can even choose your own ISP.
- thinkingtoilet 3y ago
  ISPs and Pharma companies get subsidies from the government, I don't think your argument holds up here. Just another area that Republicans are happy to be hypocrites on. I would love to see Republicans set out "small government" legislation that removes subsidies to the core businesses in their states but you and I both know that will never happen. A child getting food stamps is an example of our 'welfare state' but it's never the billions that go to agriculture or pharma companies.
  - ProllyInfamous 3y ago
    I laugh often knowing that WalMart is the largest single recipient of "corporate welfare" in this fine state/country. What a term/fact. When my black nephew started working there, they walked him through "applying for foodstamps" as part of his training/onboarding.
- p_j_w 3y ago
  >Blocking public services that naturally have a pricing advantage over private businesses because they're supported by tax dollars. That's the stated rationale. The actual reason is that the entirety of Republican economic ideology revolves around the idea that the government isn't capable of providing better service than private companies and municipal broadband shows this to be a complete lie.
bigstrat2003 3y ago
If you think Democrats aren't just as corrupt and willing to pass bills that are bad for the people but good for their donors, I have a bridge in Arizona to sell you. The problem here is that the vast majority of public officials are corrupt, not which party they happen to run with.
- ProllyInfamous 3y ago
  >THE PROBLEM HERE IS THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS ARE CORRUPT Again, for the people in the back! BRING BACK RANK-CHOICE VOTING (To Tennessee, specifically!)
- thinkingtoilet 3y ago
  Did I say that? The conversation here was about municipal broadband in Tennessee. Whataboutism isn't helpful for any discussion.

ProllyInfamous 3y ago

The reason Chattanooga is even allowed to offer fiber internet service is that TECHNICALLY it is for monitoring their power delivery infrastructure, down to each household. Customer internet is just an "additional benefit." When your power disconnect here (without explanation), somebody from the power company shows up within the hour (to figure out why, then replace any broken hardware). But this is rare, as the "auto switchers" can typically reroute blackouts, restoring service usually within seconds.

smelendez 3y ago

US states typically can organize their municipalities, school districts, fire departments, public power agencies, etc. however they want. If the state constitution doesn’t say otherwise, the legislature can just pass a law saying municipalities can’t get into the internet business and that’s that. This comes up a lot with liberal cities in conservative states.