Subscribe[Editor’s Note: My efforts to tell the story of Wilson in an orderly manner are being challenged by fast-moving developments in the state legislature. So even though you have yet to see the story play itself out here in its entirety, if you live in North Carolina, this is something you need to act on today. Wilson may not be a part of the Triad, but my friends, municipal broadband may be one way out of the cap mess once and for all, so you need to get involved in the fight.]
HB1252, a bill to severely curtail municipal broadband projects in North Carolina, was moved without prejudice Wednesday to the House Utility Committee for further consideration.
Brian Bowman, who runs the Save NC Broadband website, in addition to his other job — Public Affairs Manager for the city of Wilson, North Carolina, had some interesting observations of just how much involvement Time Warner has in this particular bill:
Several times, members of the committee asked bill sponsors Rep. Ty Harrell (Wake) and Rep. Thom Tillis (Mecklenburg) for clarification. The lawmakers turned to a Time Warner staff member and an attorney who represents the industry to speak on their behalf. You read that right. The sponsors, elected by their communities, had to ask a Time Warner representative to clarify what their own bill said.
Although the debate now moves to a different venue, the need for North Carolina residents to contact their state government representatives remains critical. A comprehensive contact list is expected shortly at Save NC Broadband’s website.
The sponsors of this anti-consumer legislation are:
NC Rep. Ty Harrell, Ty.Harrell at ncleg.net, 919.733.5602
NC Rep. Earl Jones, Earl.Jones at ncleg.net, 919.733.5825
NC Rep. Marilyn Avila, Marilyn.Avila at ncleg.net, 919.733.5530
NC Rep. Thom Tillis, Thom.Tillis at ncleg.net, 919.733.5828
If any of these people represent you, get on the phones and/or e-mail them your profound disappointment for their anti-consumer position, and let them know you will remember their vote when they come up for re-election. If your representative isn’t listed here, then you should be watching the Save NC Broadband site for further developments and contact information, and informing your elected officials of your opposition to HB1252.
Let them know this is a transparent effort by corporate interests to kill off municipal networks that are critical to deliver the high tech platform North Carolina needs to succeed in a high tech economy. Remind them that municipal projects in Wilson do not rely on taxpayer dollars and are designed to be self-sustained by subscription revenue. Also let them know these networks would not have been needed had the incumbent providers stepped up and provided an advanced level of service. Because they didn’t, municipally-run networks for the benefit of their citizens are a positive development, and you want to make sure nothing is done to forestall their development.
I’ve emailed my representatives in Alamance county. I hope more do the same (or call)
Here’s the quickest way to find your representative(s):
http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/members/memberList.pl?sChamber=House
I’ve written to Rep Jones. No response yet.
http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/631009
Article about cities that have municipal broadband and how they have succeeded. Does anyone know if the Community Broadband Act passed or if it died?
The federal Community Broadband Act https://www.baller.com/category/community-broadband/ did not pass during the past legislative session, however, it had bi-partisan support and hopefully will be brought forward this year to prevent bills such as the NC current anti municipal broadband bill from being enacted in the future.
Folks in NC, however, should not wait on such action. They need to tell their State representatives now what a remakably bad idea the anti municipal broadband bill is for the people and businesses of North Carolina.
Several of the House didn’t even know a thing about this bill or the one in the senate (1004), as of yesterday Alice Bordsen’s ( http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/members/viewMember.pl?sChamber=House&nUserID=333 ) office said she hadn’t even heard a thing about it but, “would bring it to her attention”.
Re: article Goodness gracious! The “poor” cities are under attack again! From the city point of view, HB1252 is “underwritten by the industry to keep consumers from receiving better options in telephone, cable, and Internet service.” Salisbury City Manager, David Treme, says “they have a team of lobbyists, and we have us”. Fact is, city officials are responding to a call from The League of Municipalities to protest this bill, and the cities are responding in their normal “knee-jerk” manner. The League is actually one of the most powerful lobbying organizations in the state; and it is subsidized by tax-payer… Read more »