Net Neutrality Links

I’m adding this link to the Net Neutrality Page.

Verizon PoliBlog, Broadband Deployment and Net Neutrality

I live in Pennsylvania, and if the Cable Customer Choice and Competition Act, aka SB 1247 and HB 2880, are passed, what will happen is this–

Franchise fees, which are right now negotiated on a town by town basis will be flattened to 3%, which is less than most municipalities currently get. That means a local tax hike for most communities.

There will be no buildout requirements, which currently exist when franchises are negotiated on the municipality level. This means Verizon can “skim the cream” and leave huge areas unserviced — a broadband ghetto. . . .

Courtesy Community hookups for municipal services will no longer be required. This means that Libraries, Municipal Services, Emergency Serivices, and others will have to purchase their broadband services. This is another cost that will be passed on to the taxpayer.

Community TV and local access will no longer be a requirement, further distancing content providers from local residents and further marginalizing communities.

In most cases prices will stay the same or go up.

There will be very little additional competition.

FiOS is still Asynchronous, unlike similar Fiber Optic networks in other countries.

Verizon is notorious for its small print, so if you buy “unlimited access” or “unlimited bandwidth” don’t for a second believe you’ll get it.

So, while I applaud Verizon for opening a dialog, to say I’m unhappy with their scheming and underhanded tactics . . . is a gross understatement. Meanwhile I will be working the phone, letters to the editor, the governor, and everyone else I can get hold of to get Act 183 repealed to once again allow community WIFI in PA

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE