Bullet257
join:2003-11-18
Orem, UT
| reply to TKJunkMail
Re: No problem with this FRANCHISE deal
This IS a muni FTTH project, funded by a municipal bond, with the City of Powell, through a local Joint Powers Board owning the FTTH infrastructure.
The city chose to pursue this as a "public/private partnership" rather than as a retail play, and to fund the project as a "Non-taxpayer backed" bond.
The service provider, TCT West, is partnering with the city to offer triple play services over the system and TCT is providing bond guarantees in exchange for this right.
So, while this is a unique and innovative funding model, it is far from just a franchise agreement. I know, because I pioneered this model and put this project together.
As far as Qwest and Bresnan are concerned, they were both sent official notices offering them the same deal as TCT, or allowing them to submit other options. Both firms decided not to participate.
In addition to the letters to the two principal incumbents, a public notice was posted in the newspaper offering this to same deal to any and all other interested parties.
Also, a thorough legal review relating to section 253 of the telecom act was performed by noted Muni telecom attorney Jim Baller and an extensive opinion letter was issued to the city council, plus extensive legal review by six other firms on other issues of the model.
We do not believe Brenan's claims in this regard have any merit. This, of course, doesn't prevent them from filing baseless law suits.
Legal threats are part of the incumbents typical scare and intimidation tactics when faced with muni initiatives. Even ones they could have participated in...
Ultimately, the consumers in Powell should be allowed to be the ultimate judges of what they need and don't need relative to fiber based services. Especially where NO tax dollars are being put at risk, and no special advantages given to TCT. (As far as infrastructure is concerned, everyone but the incumbents will admit FTTH can offer more and better of everything than the existing infrastructures.)
The usual cast of characters are against this project for the same very basic and obvious reasons, which they try to dress up as "public concern", no surprises here.
Ernie Bray
Chief Technology Officer
U.S. Metronets |
