| Relic of the past. Franchise agreements held a purpose back when cities helped encourage and subsizidize the building of cable infrastructure. They'd give a company a right to operate the system and then later could if they so chosed to let someone else operate the system. Now that the federal government has removed all their powers it's just a money giveaway.
If cities need monetary aid they should be getting it from the state and federal government. Not from some company as a bribe for them to lobby in favor of an incumbent near monopoly. |
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 JoeOnSunsetDoublethink Is Doubleplus Ungood.Premium
join:2002-11-25
Ormond Beach, FL | As if a state-wide utilities commission is going to be less political and more responsive to consumer needs? I'm not sure what you mean by "lobby in favor of an incumbent near monopoly." PUCs don't "lobby." If they did, I don't know why you'd think the same situation but state-wide would be any better.
If monopolies are going to be created and regulated, it's MUCH better to do it on a local level, where there is more transparency and the commission is much closer to the end users. I honesty can't think of one reason why franchises should be state-wide, except to make it easier on the monopolists. |
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 marigoldsGainfully employed, finallyPremium,MVM
join:2002-05-13
Saint Louis, MO
kudos:1 | reply to Taget
said by Taget:If cities need monetary aid they should be getting it from the state and federal government. Not from some company as a bribe for them to lobby in favor of an incumbent near monopoly. That may be nice for your state, but in some states the cities do not get money from their state governments, or only receive very small amounts of money. They only receive revenue from local fees and taxes.
What should they do?
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 JTRockvilleData HoPremium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD
 ·Verizon FiOS
| reply to Taget
said by Taget:Now that the federal government has removed all their powers it's just a money giveaway. No one is giving anything away under the current structure.
Public companies profit from the use of public land, and they provide compensation to the locals, who maintain the land.
The federal government hasn't removed all the power from the locals (yet). Locals can still deny franchise renewals (though I'm not sure it's ever been done) and take over the system. |
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