keyboard5684
join:2001-08-01
Youngsville, PA | Cannot read it...
I hate the articles I have to sign up for service to read. Why start a forum based on that? |
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Jim Slim
Kenya's Finest
Premium
join:2002-01-12
Union, NJ | God dam
I can't imagine how this bill would pass...what harm could community run broadband do? |
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Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02 | reply to keyboard5684
Re: Cannot read it...
Should be fixed now? |
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David
No,there is another.
Premium,VIP
join:2002-05-30
Granite City, IL
clubs: | reply to keyboard5684
Someone had a link to a website that allowed you to get a username and password, without registering.
I forget who posted it or where... hopefully the person will post again.. |
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jsouth
Jsouth
join:2000-12-12
Wichita, KS | reply to keyboard5684
Your the only one. I can read it just fine without signing up for anything. Anyway this is just an example of corporate greed. I hope the lawmakers don't pass this bill. |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
 ·Comcast
| GOOD!
The last thing the city of Philadelphia should be doing is wasting our money on something as silly as this. Maybe they should be putting that money towards funding SEPTA, fixing crappy schools, hiring more cops and not closing down fire stations instead.
If people want Internet access that bad, they can always buy it from Comcast or Verizon, its not like the city isn't wired for broadband already.
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Hey Fast Eddie... you're next! |
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Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02 | reply to David
Re: Cannot read it...
»www.bugmenot.com/
Bug me not...
But I believe I fixed the link.
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Vote Palpatine/Skywalker '05: Moral Values for the Republic! |
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staticx57
join:2002-01-24
Toms River, NJ
clubs: | reply to pnh102
Re: GOOD!
Which one do you work for, Verizon or Comcast? |
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keyboard5684
join:2001-08-01
Youngsville, PA
 ·Teliax VOIP
 ·WestPAnet Inc.
·WestPAnet Inc. CA..
| reply to jsouth
Re: Cannot read it...
I think they fixed the link after I posted...
Anyway, now that I can read it, I do not think governments should be able to set up broadband networks that are extremely cheap because they are funded by tax payers.
Everyone in a city uses water, it makes sense to have local government run that. Less than 40% of people have broadband and I think the last numbers I looked at were 70% do not even want any internet access!!
So my point is the government should not be bringing in cheaper services than the current providers already have. Market driven prices are market driven prices and introducing government (again, tax payers) into the picture basically throws the idea out the window.
Why not start government controlled grocery stores that are cheaper? Maybe car sales? Of course not. Generally the only think the government used to get into were things that were not profitable, where the only people that would pay for it was tax payers. This includes roads, street lights and other things that really do not rake in profit. |
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Qumahlin
Never Enough Time
Premium,MVM
join:2001-10-05
united state
| reply to staticx57
Re: GOOD!
Why is it people must assume that if you side with corporations that you must work for who you are siding for...I mean god forbid he has a point about the money being better spent elsewhere for REAL needs.
I'm all for having wi-fi throughout the city...but the fact is the city has PLENTY of problems that need fixing before moving out to frivilous endeavors such as this. |
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keyboard5684
join:2001-08-01
Youngsville, PA | reply to staticx57
His point does not mean he works for "Big Tobacco" or something. I agree, governments should focus on things that are needed, like feeding the poor maybe?
The internet is not a "need". It is not a staple item like water. |
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EAP
join:2000-01-15
Lafayette Hill, PA
1 edit | reply to pnh102
"our money" -- you live in King of Prussia.
By the way, I live in the suburbs too. But I realize that what is good for Philadelphia is good for the entire metropolitan area. I see no harm in this.
I don't think that the $$$ for this is coming from another budget area. SEPTA is funded by the state anyway.
Fire and police seem plentiful to me. I have never heard of any place in Philly burning down due to lack of fire stations. Nor have I seen not enough cops anywhere -- in fact I see plenty. Crime is down too.
You sound like the typical suburbanite who hasn't been too the big oh so scary city in 15 years and is too scared to go to a center city restaurant cause you might have to -- oh my god -- pay for parking. You think no money should ever be budgeted for Philly from anywhere else in the state (very provincial -- not thinking metropolitan). |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
1 edit | said by EAP  :"our money" -- you live in King of Prussia. And a lot of the money I pay in state taxes ends up going into city coffers. If I worked in the city, I would also be forced to pay a wage tax. Either way, I have no say in how this money is spent.
said by EAP :But I realize that what is good for Philadelphia is good for the entire metropolitan area. You are correct, and with the city wasting money on silly, useless things, our taxes in the suburbs go up to make up the difference.
said by EAP :I don't think that the $$$ for this is coming from another budget area. SEPTA is funded by the state anyway. Every county serviced by SEPTA pays part of its costs. The remainder comes from fares, as well as state and federal funds.
said by EAP :Fire and police seem plentiful to me. I have never heard of any place in Philly burning down due to lack of fire stations. Nor have I seen not enough cops anywhere -- in fact I see plenty. Crime is down too. Philadelphia is about to close at least 8 fire stations to "save money." What if fewer fire stations mean more people dying in fires because the remaining stations cannot dispatch units quickly enough? As for crime being down, that is due to the fact that there are more cops on the streets. Instead of wasting money on something people can get on their own, perhaps more cops could be hired to make the city streets safer. And don't get me started on how pathetic the Philadelphia school system is.
And as for me being a typical suburbanite, I go into the city at least once a week for work related purposes and spend a fair amount of time in the city for fun. I want Philadelphia to be the best it can possibly be. But cutting spending on essential services to pay for some frivolous Internet venture is not the way to accomplish this.
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Hey Fast Eddie... you're next! |
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Starbucks Wi-Fi User
@tmodns.net
| reply to pnh102
Bravo Verizon!!!
I don't understand why the City of Philadelphia should operate what essentially would be a monopoly that canibalizes the service from legitimate companies providing broadband through DSL, cable, wireless (Wi-Fi) and MDS.
The City already provides FREE Wi-Fi at Love Park and at the Reading Terminal near downtown. Poor people cannot afford laptops so it does not make sense to deploy Wi-Fi in all areas of town. If the true intent is to gap the digital divide, the city should provide more computer terminals in libaries where the Internet will be used for people to study with instead of being used to arrange drug deals. But maybe the City needs the service for its Police Dept. so that it can more quickly access its databases to apprehend people for driving while black and the like... Do we really need to facilitate Big Brother??
If Wi-Fi throughout the city is really required, the City instead should offer an RFP to invite experienced Wi-Fi providers to deploy the mesh and be able to charge money for the access and perhaps offer the service to the city departments as well. In turn, the city could get a portion of the revenue for rental of light poles, signs and public building tops. (Instead of spending the City coffers, this would bring in revenue for other much needed projects.)
Why drain the life out of an already thin city budget? Just drain it out of the telecoms and let the users pay for the service as they need it. |
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GLX
join:2000-01-18
San Francisco, CA
3 edits | reply to EAP
As a resident of Philadelphia (19129), I'd far prefer that the city spend money on
1) Plowing my street when it snows
I've never, ever had it plowed, even 2 years ago when we had those three big storms back to back. Forced me to buy a car that could drive in a foot of snow.
2) Fixing the streets
My coworker blew out a tire last week on a ditch in a street that was opened up by a city crew but never closed.
3) Fixing the schools
You see the news. 'nuff said.
4) Bailing SEPTA out again
To me this is incredibly low priority as they keep on digging their own grave, however it's still HIGHER in priority than Wi-Fi
5) Fixing PGW. Billions of dollars in debt. It's city owned.
6) Cut the absolutely ridiculous city wage tax that I pay.
Unless you work in the city you can't even begin to understand how hideous it is to have to pay ANOTHER 4% out of your paycheck to a city who can't even plow my street. Don't give me the "convenience" BS - I do most of my shopping in KoP and Plymouth Meeting and my work is in Bala Cynwyd. Of course I'm not going to shop in the city if it's going to cost me an extra 1% in sales tax. The last thing I want is to pay MORE to the city so that they can sponsor WiFi
7) Mayor $treet's impeachment trial 
As much as I feel it's BS that the state is giving them a handout by legislating something like this, I'd rather it happen and they force the city's hand rather than $treet giving the contract for installing it to his brother. |
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weary
@reedsmith.com
| Really growing weary of VZ.
First they take our money for years and years and then they roll out fiber in Texas and Florida.
Then they tell me my service level will remain the same after I move all of two miles. It doesn't. In fact they tell me I am no longer qualified for DSL. They cancel my service. A month later they tell me I can have DSL again. But at half the previous bandwidth and a new account name.
Now they want to ban muni's from using their discretionary funds in whatever way they see fit.
All Comcast has to do is offer unbudled cable modem service for the same price as VZ's lowest service tier and I am done with them. |
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boogi man
join:2001-11-13
Apo, AE
clubs: | Crazy
This whole thing just sucks |
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tbone106
join:2004-02-03
Lake Zurich, IL
| reply to keyboard5684
Re: Cannot read it...
The way I see it, cities needs to generate income -- we all know they got too fat in the '90s, so way not resale access?
Or they could just say, f-it, and raise taxes or better yet, lay off police, fire, teachers, their brother in-laws, wifes, girl friends, etc.
Don't lose sleep over it, Comcast and everyone else selling access is making a small mint. |
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staticx57
join:2002-01-24
Toms River, NJ
clubs:
| reply to Qumahlin
Re: GOOD!
the part about working for Verizon was sarcasm. I think it is ridiculous that there should be a bill banning municipal broadband ventures in the state. you dont need a bill to ban money from being used for broadband so it would be used for other causes. |
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needforspeed59
Cruise Ship Just Passing Through
join:2001-05-02
Glendale, AZ
| reply to keyboard5684
Re: Cannot read it...
Couldn't have said it better myself. I agree with you 100% Why not state run grocery stores? Can you say, "USSR"? LOL! It's a slippery slope when governments think they can take taxpayer money and run private enterprise (greedy corps to some of you) out of business. Glad I live in a Red state where conservative heads prevail.
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Of all the people I know... you're one of them. |
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