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North Carolina Call to Action! The Municipal Broadband Moratorium Heads to the House

Phillip Dampier June 16, 2010 Community Networks, Competition, Editorial & Site News, Public Policy & Gov't, Rural Broadband No Comments

North Carolina: the fight against S.1209, the municipal broadband moratorium bill that stops communities from building their own broadband alternatives now moves to the House Ways and Means/Broadband Connectivity Committee.

All 15 members are listed below. You need to call and e-mail them and let them know you vehemently oppose this anti-consumer legislation as it stands. Let them know you want that one year moratorium out of this bill at all costs. Better yet, considering the study group mandated by the bill doesn’t include any consumers, just throw the whole thing out. The only study that needs to be done is why North Carolina is near the bottom of the 50 states in broadband rankings. Municipal providers can change that and revitalize local economies, create new high-tech jobs and help advance health care and education. You can accomplish none of these things with a one-year roadblock on broadband progress.

Some of our allies on this legislation have been forced to mute their opposition, trying to avoid an even worse bill that could make a municipal broadband moratorium permanent. That means North Carolina residents have to be on the front lines of opposition more than ever.

Let legislators know you understand some groups representing towns and cities in the state may have stopped fighting against the bill, but that doesn’t mean they endorse it. More importantly, as a voter, you oppose the bill. If you are personally served by one of these 15 representatives, let them know their vote is being carefully watched. Will they stand with the people of North Carolina who want better broadband and believe local government should be able to provide it, or do they stand with Time Warner Cable, AT&T and other telecom companies seeking a one year moratorium that guarantees another year of high prices, inadequate broadband, and no alternatives for towns and cities that want better options.

As always, be polite, persuasive, and persistent! Phone calls work wonders, but at least send an e-mail. Doing both is even better. You can click the e-mail addresses in bold to launch your e-mail software. Please do not carbon copy legislators. Send an individually personalized e-mail to the representative(s) of your choice.

House Ways and Means/Broadband Connectivity Committee

County	Name	Telephone #	E-Mail	Party
Mecklenburg	Kelly Alexander	919-733-5778	Kelly.Alexander@ncleg.net	Democrat
Nash, Hallifax	Angela R. Bryant	919-733-5878	Angela.Bryant@ncleg.net	Democrat
Rowan	Lorene Coates	919-733-5784	Lorene.Coates@ncleg.net	Democrat
Orange, Caswell	Bill Faison	919-715-3019	Bill.Faison@ncleg.net	Democrat
Burke, McDowell	Mitch Gillespie	919-733-5862	Mitchg@ncleg.net	Republican
Mecklenburg	Jim Gulley	919-733-5800	Jim.Gulley@ncleg.net	Republican
Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain	R. Phillip Haire	919-715-3005	Phillip.Haire@ncleg.net	Democrat
Brunswick, Columbus	Dewey L. Hill	919-733-5830	Dewey.Hill@ncleg.net	Democrat
Catawba	Mark K. Hilton	919-733-5988	Mark.Hilton@ncleg.net	Republican
Franklin, Hallifax, Nash	John May	919-733-5860	John.May@ncleg.net	Democrat
Allegheny, Surry	Sarah Stevens	919-715-1883	Sarah.Stevens@ncleg.net	Republican
Mecklenburg	Thom Tillis	919-733-5828	Thom.Tillis@ncleg.net	Republican
Edgecomb, Wilson	Joe P. Tolson	919-715-3024	Joe.Tolson@ncleg.net	Democrat
Durham, Person	W. A. (Winkie) Wilkins	919-715-0850	Winkie.Wilkins@ncleg.net	Democrat

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