Great Resource on CORPORATE Vs. PUBLIC INTERNET FIGHT

[Armstead]

Sorry for the caps, but this is important.

As has been noted, there are efforts by the Corporate Pigwigs to prevent localities and other non-business entities from providing affordable Intrnet access. Even those they want to reserve the right not to serve unprofitable areas, they still want it all.

This site tracks the battle on the state and national levels, as well as providing a good overview of what's at stake.

In some ways this can be compared to the old battles when private utilities trried to stop public power.

Anyway this site is a good reference and ought to be passed around.


http://www.freepress.net/communityinternet/

"In the past few years, municipal broadband has been shooting up across the country -- visit the interactive map prepared by CNET to locate the many projects. As hundreds of municipal governments explore how to directly provide high-speed broadband through local networks, major telecom firms respond with aggressive lobbying against the municipal options. They have pushed legislation in more than a dozen states that prohibits public entities from entering into the broadband market. A number of additional state legislatures – with more expected soon – are considering similar anti-municipal broadband bills or measures to strengthen existing restrictions...."

(It would be helpful if people would comment or at least give this a good occasional kick so it doesn't slide into the archives immediately.)

[Armstead]

1. Kick