We are not interested in partisan Democrat-Republican squabbles, because this is not a partisan party-divide issue. We call them as we see them, and there are some ridiculous right-wing groups suckered into pro-industry positions (teabaggers fighting against their own best interests in North Carolina to stop municipal broadband) and there are some Democrats that are happily cashing industry checks and voting against the best interests of consumers.

The “free market” deregulation approach DOES NOT WORK without vibrant, robust competition among equal/near-equal providers. Without that crucial component, all that brings about are rate increases and limits on service.

Where competition is insufficient, regulation and oversight is essential to protect market abusive practices.

Let’s also make sure we review the voting record of the 1996 Telecom Act. It received enormous support from Republicans, so just because Clinton signed it does not mean it absolves those who voted for it.

In fact, here is a complete list of those who were smart enough to vote AGAINST the bill:

Voting Against Passage

* US Senate – 5
* Russell Feingold (D, WI)
* Patrick Leahy (D, VT)
* Paul Wellstone (D, MN)
* Paul Simon (D, IL)
* John McCain (R, AZ)

* US House of Representatives – 16
* Neil Abercrombie (D, HI)
* Fortney Pete Stark (D, CA)
* Earl Hilliard (D, AL)
* Peter DeFazio (D, OR)
* Tim Johnson (D, SD)
* Pat Williams (D, MT)
* Patricia Schroder (D, CO)
* Harold Volkmer (D, MO)
* John Conyers, Jr. (D, MI)
* Barney Frank (D, MA)
* Maurice Hinchey (D, NY)
* Jerrold Nader (D, NY)
* Collin Peterson (D, MN)
* Sidney Yates (D, IL)
* Lane Evans (D, IL)
* Bernard Sanders (I,VT)

Not Voting

* US Senate – 3
* Christopher Dodd (D, CI)
* Phil Gramm (R, TX)
* John D.Rockefeller (D, WV)

* US House of Representatives – 4
* John Bryant (D,TX)
* Jim Chapman (D, TX)
* Bob Filner (D, CA)
* Charlie Rose (D, NC)

You had me until the ‘right-wing’ astroturf comments. Pretty decent article/posting, otherwise.

Funny, no mention of government involvement in the breakdown of our country’s terrestrial network, eh?

Look no further than the Telecom Act of 1996 for the PRIME reason companies like Verizon abandoned rural territories.

The bottom line is when you put CPAs, lawyers, and corrupt (left-wing/Democrat) politicians in charge of ANYTHING, bankruptcy is sure to follow…The break up of the local loop monopoly was akin to ‘unbundling’ the interstate highway system…(kind of like NAFTA was to manufacturing jobs)…

Fairpoint and Verizon are simply casualties to the Telecom Act, dreamed up by none other than a left-wing, Democrat (Ed Markey D-MA), and signed by a left-wing, Democrat.(Bill Clinton D-Interns)…How’s that working out for you?

Regards,
Geoff