Tarheels Fan
Premium
join:2006-01-05
 ·Embarq
| If it means more "campaign" money then it will pass
This state has been controlled by one party for over 75 years now. They passed laws to not allow for voters to pass referendums and draw the lines to make sure they maintain their hold. You absolutely have no say in this state as to how things are run. There is so much PAC money slung around, its ridiculous. Its all about who will give the most money and in this case it means telco's and cableco's. |
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ninjatutle
Premium
join:2006-01-02
San Ramon, CA | Hotels, internet cafe's, etc
spent a good deal of money investing in systems. |
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Dominokat
"Hi"
Premium
join:2002-08-06
Boothbay, ME
clubs:
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| Playing field
How does things like this level the playing field.
You hear about this with incumbents saying they will wire an area IF NO OTHER COMPETITION IS ALLOWED. However, any one that tries to put in a muni system (that isn't linked to incumbent) gets their asses sued BY INCUMBENTS.
And the end result, is the same. A promise from an incumbent to provide service, and a sued (other) provider resulting in NO SERVICE TO ANYONE.
Incumbents give broken promises to protect their ass (money) |
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Matt
Take me down to the paradise city
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..
| reply to Tarheels Fan
Re: If it means more "campaign" money then it will pass
said by Tarheels Fan  :This state has been controlled by one party for over 75 years now. They passed laws to not allow for voters to pass referendums and draw the lines to make sure they maintain their hold. You absolutely have no say in this state as to how things are run. There is so much PAC money slung around, its ridiculous. Its all about who will give the most money and in this case it means telco's and cableco's. Amen. It's hilarious.
All the young people I know vote Democrat or Green and yet, Red always wins the state. Sad.
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Oh I'm so creative and all my programs are so easy to use ... |
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openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
·AT&T Southeast
| reply to Dominokat
Re: Playing field
It levels the field in the sense that semi-bottomless government treasuries will now have to compete equally with for-profit corporations. Seems fair to me.instead of setting a four-year time table for being cash-flow positive for a project, the bill now says it must be in “such time to be consistent with commercial practices for similar projects.” |
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Dominokat
"Hi"
Premium
join:2002-08-06
Boothbay, ME
clubs:
1 edit | Who wins if everyone sues their competitor?
Not the consumer. |
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MrMoody
Carbon Based Lifeform
join:2002-09-03
Smithfield, NC
·Embarq
 ·Skype
·magicjack.com
| Corporatocracy
quote:
Incumbent providers say it's about a level playing field, while opponents argue it's about incumbents protecting their monopoly/duopoly.
So the incumbents are saying it's to protect them from unfair competition while the opponents are saying it's to protect them from competition. Seems pretty straightforward.
What I can't believe is the number of politicians in the pockets of big business. Welcome to the corporatocracy. More and more, our government exists only to protect big business's bottom line. |
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TScheisskopf
World News Trust
join:2005-02-13
Belvidere, NJ
 ·Sprint Broadband D..
| Certainly not the consumer. I would hope tarheels start screaming loud.
You know, NC has become an interesting place, kind of like Paris under Robespierre was an interesting place. Recently, I heard about a person, in Greenboro, who attempted suicide for a second time. That's SECOND TIME. She was not involuntarily committed to an institution the first time, nor was she on the second time, even though she is a clear danger to herself.
Why?
Because NC does not have an involuntary commitment law for people who attempt suicide, or for those who are expressing suicidal ideations with a plan.
Sounds like the state government is not addressing the important things down there, and that's a crying shame. My family's roots run deep in that state, my great-uncle wrote the definitive history of early NC. It used to be a lot different , in a good way. |
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anon125487
@sprintlink.net
|  reply to Matt
Re: If it means more "campaign" money then it will pass
North Carolina state legilature has been controlled by democrats at least the last 5 years. The last 2 govenors (Mike Easley won 2 terms)are democrats. Presently democrats are in the majority for the US house. John Edwards was a democrat senator during the last prez elections
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openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA | reply to Dominokat
Re: Playing field
This isn't about suing. It's about a law that should minimize the need of the corporations to sue the munis. Besides, don't make the mistake that this has ever been about the consumer. |
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StudioTech
S2409W plus SA4250HD
join:2001-10-10
Edison, NJ
1 edit | Wrong thread
... |
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rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO
| reply to TScheisskopf
Re: Corporatocracy
I'm not sure what you mean by "it used to be a lot different". If they don't have an involuntary commitment law now, did they in the past? If they've never had the law perhaps they did not need the law. Just speculation but perhaps the NC people have changed by expecting the government to care for them. Perhaps in the past NC was a place where family members would have have ensured this person received the care they needed.
We should all carefully consider what we ask our government to do for us. It may sound good at first but it's generally better if we keep the responsibility for ourselves and let the free market prevail.
While I don't like the idea of billion dollar corporations lobbying for "protection", I'm not sure government- sponsored free broadband is the answer. I would rather see a political effort to entice multiple broadband providers by offering various economic incentives. |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| reply to Matt
Re: If it means more "campaign" money then it will pass
said by Matt :All the young people I know vote Democrat or Green and yet, Red always wins the state. Sad. Give it time. Once they notice how much it sucks to be signing the fronts of the checks instead of the back, they will come around. 
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Only SHATNER is Kirk. |
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Dominokat
"Hi"
Premium
join:2002-08-06
Boothbay, ME
clubs:
1 edit | reply to MrMoody
Re: Corporatocracy
Sooner or later this is all going to back fire and the economy is going to go to HELL. We will have no other then our government and greedy corporations to blame. |
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KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
1 edit | "Level Playing Field"
"Level Playing Field"
Translation: A playing field where only 1 incumbent Telephone Company and 1 CableTV company are allowed on the field, and they always win, and the consumer always loses. |
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openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
·AT&T Southeast
| Any other non-government entity can still initiate operations and provide service to the poor "losing consumers". Even under this law, it appears that government can still provide service so long as the service meets a ROI similar to generally acceptable corporate ROIs. How can anyone see this unacceptable? |
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ieolus
Support The Clecs
join:2001-06-19
Duluth, GA | reply to openbox9
Re: Playing field
You are saying community broadband isn't about the consumer? If not, WTF is?
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"Speak for yourself "Chadmaster" - lesopp |
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ieolus
Support The Clecs
join:2001-06-19
Duluth, GA
| reply to openbox9
Re: "Level Playing Field"
Because if the citizens of a community (whether it is a city, county, whatever) decide by a vote that they want to run their own government-controlled broadband effort, they should be able to. *That* is what democracy is... it isn't a haven for monopoly companies to run roughshod over people by lawsuit.
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"Speak for yourself "Chadmaster" - lesopp |
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TScheisskopf
World News Trust
join:2005-02-13
Belvidere, NJ | reply to rradina
Re: Corporatocracy
"Economic Incentives"?
In other words, give them tax dollars? I disagree. We have enough corporations sucking off tax dollars and outsourcing jobs or using H1-B's. |
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rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO | Temporarily reduce their tax burden in return for their economic investment in the community. I guess you could call that "giving them tax dollars" if you think that's the same as letting them keep dollars they would have paid. |
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