Don’t raise my taxes to pay for a service which people should pay for themselves, if they choose.

Thank YOu,
Joe Taxpayer

Please, people, read before ranting.

MUNICIPAL BAN

There are communities across the state, such as Kutztown, which have taken the initiative to develop an integrated telecommunications network that provides advanced telephone and cable television service. There are other communities, ranging in size from Perryopolis to Philadelphia that are attempting to launch wireless networks�Wi-Fi networks as they are known in the industry�which will enable their residents to have high speed connection to the Internet.

Early versions of House Bill 30 precluded communities from developing their own networks. The final version of the bill allows existing municipal systems to continue to operate and provides local governments and authorities a one-year window to develop these networks. Municipalities that are providing telecommunications service through a municipally owned or created network as of January 1, 2006 can continue to offer and provide the services �to the extent and scope� that these services were provided before that date. After that window closes, municipalities must offer the incumbent telephone company the right of first refusal to provide the proposed service. Then, the municipality can proceed with its proposed network only if the ILEC waives it�s right of first refusal under this act.

Verizon has already agreed to waive its right of first refusal in regard to Philadelphia�s proposed municipal Wi-Fi network guaranteeing that that particular project can proceed. They have done so in a signed agreement with the City. We will work with other municipalities on projects that they have established or propose to establish in order to ensure that, to the extent that they are now viable, they will also have the opportunity to succeed.

This is what government is for–to step in where private business can’t, for the sake of promoting the general welfare and turbocharging the pursuit of happiness. For the modest investment and maintenance costs, the potential boone to local businesses, city services, education, and even Verizon’s own field operations, is incalculable, not to mention the demand for WiFi-enabled gadgets.

Verizon still charges $20/mo for unlimited dialup. Let’s assume that price is a reflection of their cost plus an honest profit. If the people can provide basic net access for themselves far more efficiently, as seems to be the case, and in so doing provide what is now essential infrastructure for commerce, why shouldn’t they? What is wrong with motivating private enterprises to put their resources to more productive and profitable uses and more viable markets?

As the comments above have elucidated in so many ways, honest competition would still be possible on many differentiating factors, such as security, bandwidth and quality of service. The City proposes to fill only the least (if at all) profitable niche.