Playing Twenty QuestionsSBC Survey or or political propaganda? ( old news - 11:42AM Saturday Feb 22 2003) tags: competition · alternatives As we mentioned yesterday, officials behind a new municipal broadband network for the Illinois cities of Batavia, St. Charles, and Geneva, are angered at both Comcast and SBC for a survey being conducted by the companies this week. Area leaders claim the questions in the survey were "lies", designed to mislead and dissuade residents from voting for the new proposal. SBC claims the survey was simple research, but refused to release the questions. We've obtained a list of the questions from an area resident, allowing you to make up your own mind. The survey, which also asks participants for their political party affiliation and age, asks the following questions: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -Will you vote in the April 1 election? -Do you believe your community is heading in the right direction? -How do you feel about the following names and businesses? Comcast, Mayor Kevin Burns, SBC, Mayor Susan Klinkhamer, Mayor Jeff Schielke, AT&T Broadband -How would you rate the job performance of your government utility? -Do you have Internet access? -Who is your ISP provider? -Are you satisfied with your ISP provider? -Do you believe high‑speed Internet access is important? -Did you know that AT&T Broadband & SBC offer high-speed Internet access to most businesses in your community? -Do you support the TriCities broadband proposal that will appear on the April 1 ballot? -How would you rate your AT&T broadband service? -How would you rate SBC customer service? -Do you believe local government can provide better customer service? -What is your opinion on the following statements: AT&T Broadband can't be trusted to provide service at an affordable price. Taxpayers should not invest more than $20 million on Internet service when two private companies provide that same service. -Is it appropriate to spend 62 million for broadband service when two private companies already provide that service? -Are private companies better prepared to offer high-speed Internet access via telephone and cable service than local government? -Are the following reasons persuasive to vote "Yes" in the upcoming referendum: The local government would provide video conferencing. Local government would provide more reliable service. Local government would provide high‑speed Internet service. Local government would use purer technology. Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles already own and operate their own utility. -Are the following reasons persuasive to vote "No" in the upcoming referendum: All taxpayers might pay higher taxes for only a few users. The proposed plan creates a large expensive and inefficient bureaucracy like that of Amtrak and the Post Office. -Do you believe local schools will have to cut teaching staff, increase class sizes and eliminate after school programs because the Tri‑Cities broadband referendum competes with existing school referendums? -Should tax money be allowed to provide pornographic movies for residents? -Do you believe, if the broadband proposal fails, there would not be money to spend on transportation and educational needs? -Would a government broadband invade privacy and allow the government to listen to your telephone conversations, monitor the Internet sites you visit and know what cable shows you watch? -Would the following questions make you more or less likely to support Tri‑Cities broadband: The technology local government would use would be obsolete in a few years therefore requiring another bond issuance later. The government plan requires property taxes to increase if 30 percent of the households do not immediately sign up for service. Because private company offers broadband service there is no need for government to provide the same service. -Now after listening to the previous questions, do you support or oppose the government broadband plan? -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Archivis
Your Daddy
Premium
join:2001-11-26
Earth
 ·Verizon FIOS
| Desperate Propoganda If that wasn't the most desperate propoganda attempt to dissuade the citizens from government owned broadband then I don't know what was.
I'd write in here my response to that survey, but I promised RadioDoc that I'd tone down my posts.
Unbelieveable...
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Hitman Forums | The Internet Hitman | Mr. Game & Watch owns all of you. | |
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caleet
Radio X - Usradiox.Com
Premium
join:2002-05-29
Middletown, OH
| Re: Desperate Propoganda I have lived in many areas and had great internet until about a year ago when I moved to Illinois. St Charles was surprisingly devoid of options. I found irritating that the big companies had nothing out here for me. It took me a good 4 months to finally get some highspeed access. And when I got it, it was not as good as other areas I had lived in.
I had contacted the City of St Charles and was advised that the utilities were the reason that these areas were not serviced by broadband. I was told that they wanted the City to put the money into the system and expected the City to maintain this equipment. If this is true ... then it would be exactly what they are wanting to do ... but keep the big companies out of it. When big companies get greedy they get hurt ... point in case.
I find it silly that this survey would be released and that big companies would try this tactic.
I guess I am going to sit back and watch ... and yes I will vote. I am not happy with the service I have now, but I am locked in for a year and paying high prices.
If an area can band together and do it cheaper and hopefully better ... I would support it.
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Charles »www.livexradio.com
[text was edited by author 2003-02-22 14:21:11] | |
| 
Toymaster
Premium
join:2001-12-27
Flint, MI
clubs: | One sided. Looks like they are trying to intimidate. And how would this go over along with the FCC ruling. Makes you wonder who's side they are on.
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Join SETI Now! | |
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BrianDamage
We Are The Hounds From Hell
Premium
join:2001-08-14
Rowlett, TX
clubs: 
| Re: One sided. Intimidation of the consumer is one of the Bells' oldest tricks.
What I find funny is their reference to "creating an inefficient bureaucracy" akin to the Postal Service and Amtrak.
That's funny.
I concede that the USPS leaves something to be desired, but we do have choices.....email, Fedex, UPS, Airborne Express, DHL, etc.
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The rich get richer, the poorer get the picture, the bombs never hit you when yer down so low...some got pollution, others evolution, there must be some solution but I just don't know....briandamage@dslr.net | |
| | | Stumbles
join:2002-12-17
Port Saint Lucie, FL
| Re: One sided. Unlike the horror stories I have read here, at least for the most part my mail ALWAYS gets delivered, even when my address has not been totally correct.
That so called survey has only one intention, to disuade the citizens involved from dumping such crappy service. IMO the take over by local govs of DSL/broadband services should happen in a whole lot of other places.
While I cannot complain to much about my service (Roadrunner), if my local gov offered the same broadband speeds for a cheaper price, you can bet your rear-end I would sign up. Of course it would all be mute if they out sourced the help desk. Because you would still end up with the same script monkeys who can only spell networking because they have heard the word so many times. | |
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Illiniwek
Go Illini
join:2002-08-19
Draper, UT
clubs:
| said by BrianDamage  :
we do have choices.....email, Fedex, UPS, Airborne Express, DHL, etc.
...cable, satellite, wireless, 56k, get away from the computer for 5 minutes a day to go out for a bike ride... Lots of choices for internet too. The necessity of an internet connection is not exactly up to the level of the Postal Service yet.
The vast majority of people (read: not people on this site) use their internet connection for e-mail. Then by your argument they also have the choice of USPS, FedEx, UPS, Airborne Express, DHL, etc. Of course, a lot of people use the internet for porn too. But then you've got Penthouse, Playboy, Hustler, Juggs, getting away from the computer for 5 minutes a day to find an actual woman... Lots of choices there too.
Of course SBC and AT&T are opposed to the municipal broadband. Do you all think that you're geniuses for figuring that out? If the government was trying to move into my business I'd be fighting tooth and nail too.
Yes I'm being flip, but my point is that the internet is not a necessity for life. If you don't like the prices, just don't pay for the f*cker. And if the voters are too stupid to be fooled into voting for something that they don't want because of a telephone survey, perhaps it is time to bring back literacy tests for voter registration.
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Oskee Wow Wow! | |
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lxAstrosxl
Premium
join:2000-10-13
Carol Stream, IL
clubs:
| Re: One sided. said by Illiniwek :
said by BrianDamage :
we do have choices.....email, Fedex, UPS, Airborne Express, DHL, etc.
...cable, satellite, wireless, 56k, get away from the computer for 5 minutes a day to go out for a bike ride... Lots of choices for internet too. The necessity of an internet connection is not exactly up to the level of the Postal Service yet.
The vast majority of people (read: not people on this site) use their internet connection for e-mail. Then by your argument they also have the choice of USPS, FedEx, UPS, Airborne Express, DHL, etc. Of course, a lot of people use the internet for porn too. But then you've got Penthouse, Playboy, Hustler, Juggs, getting away from the computer for 5 minutes a day to find an actual woman... Lots of choices there too.
Of course SBC and AT&T are opposed to the municipal broadband. Do you all think that you're geniuses for figuring that out? If the government was trying to move into my business I'd be fighting tooth and nail too.
Yes I'm being flip, but my point is that the internet is not a necessity for life. If you don't like the prices, just don't pay for the f*cker. And if the voters are too stupid to be fooled into voting for something that they don't want because of a telephone survey, perhaps it is time to bring back literacy tests for voter registration.
I guess we might aswell get rid of telephones and cell phones also, because its easier and healthier to write a letter and give it to the postman to take weeks to deliver. We might aswell get rid of TV and Newspaper aswell, because we don't need to know whats happenining in our current world. We dont need cars and planes either because.....its bad for the atmosphere, and its more healthier to walk 30 to 20,000miles, we dont need no stinkin medicine!! because it wasn't born with us that means we dont need to , we will get better all on our own!! Oh shit look at that my hand just got torn off, no need to go to some fancy hospital with new technology, ill just go on over to grandma's house and wait for her to finish stichtin up her dress so i can be next in line, cuz hell this trail of blood im leaving behind sure doesn't bring out the yellow carpets!!. Oh your oh so right, those arent necesities in life, we don't need them to have better and time consuming lives. Dude....without the internet, things would hundreds of time slower. Companies wouldnt be able to settle deals intime or shipments couldn't be made in time. putting lives at risk because of nutin haven certain necesities in life delivered so she/he can survive longer. Yea dont wanna mess with mother nature man. Give me a break, if it wasnt for the internet, you wouldn't be here posting this crap. Hell with the dumb sh!t you just posted you could of been outside now taking a 5minute stroll round the block!! | |
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Illiniwek
Go Illini
join:2002-08-19
Draper, UT
clubs:
| Re: One sided. said by lxAstrosxl :
I guess we might aswell get rid of telephones and cell phones also, because its easier and healthier to write a letter and give it to the postman to take weeks to deliver. We might aswell get rid of TV and Newspaper aswell, because we don't need to know whats happenining in our current world. We dont need cars and planes either because.....its bad for the atmosphere, and its more healthier to walk 30 to 20,000miles, we dont need no stinkin medicine!! because it wasn't born with us that means we dont need to
You completely just proved my point. You're right, we don't need TV, Newspaper, cars, or planes. And have you noticed that the government isn't trying to get into any of those businesses? Have you noticed that those businesses aren't regulated? You're offbase talking about businesses using the internet. Nobody here is talking about that; we're talking about residential broadband. Why does everyone here thing that SBC or Comcast or BLS or Time Warner owes you a broadband connection at a price that you want? If you don't like the prices, stay on 56k! I pay $46 per month for my internet connection and I don't mind at all. If it was $100, I'd be back on NetZero. The market is completely able to handle broadband pricing, and we don't need government interference. This is a bunch of left-wing propaganda, and I hate when my favorite site (DSLR) turns into a commie rag.
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Oskee Wow Wow! | |
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lxAstrosxl
Premium
join:2000-10-13
Carol Stream, IL
clubs: | Re: One sided.  | |
| | | | | napframe
join:2002-01-20
North Hollywood, CA | Companies can do all those things with dialup! | |
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lxAstrosxl
Premium
join:2000-10-13
Carol Stream, IL
clubs:
| Re: One sided. said by napframe :
Companies can do all those things with dialup!
we'e talkin bout the net all together. | |
| | | | TheTruest
join:2003-02-18
Los Angeles, CA
| flame extinguished - 2kmaro
[text was edited by moderator] | |
| | | | OC256Busta
join:2002-10-25
Houston, TX | I sure do agree with the part of getting away from the computer for fresh air! | |
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Maggs
Premium
join:2002-11-29
Woodside, NY
 ·RCN CABLE
| Hey the Post Office & Amtrak service are required under federal regulations to serve almost all areas of the nation despite profitability. Your options include:
If you don't want to take the train: fly, bus, car
If you don't want to mail through USPS: FedEx,UPS, DHL, Airborne Express
If you don't want to pay high cable internet service prices: DSL because with cable there is no regulation on internet service since the Cable Act never took that into consideration.
The Cable Act should be rewritten to include regulation and oversight regarding cable internet services since it is provided through a regulated monopoly. This regulation in effect now only applies basically to cable television service, although the cable companies look for sweet provisions that help them and try to apply it to their situation. This is unfair due to the fact that consumers have absolutely no recourse whatsoever if a cable company fails to provide reasonable service. The only option is to discontinue service altogether.
Citizens & consumers who believe this is not right should contact their local franchising authority to determine whether the cable companies are in full compliance with their franchising agreements. Also, a provision should be written into the franchise agreement detailing the actions that will be taken if you do not adequately provide service to X number of subscribers. This new agreement should have a penalties section detailing the fines that a cable company would pay if they fail to effectively meet provisions except in the cases of technological failures.
This post is in regards to cable internet services. | |
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Illiniwek
Go Illini
join:2002-08-19
Draper, UT
clubs:
| Re: SBC "push and shove" poll said by morbo :
a horrible if not illegal act by SBC and Comcast. these fu ks need to be delt with in a court of law.
Could you expound on how this would be illegal? It's a survey for God's sake. And with DSLR's usual exchange of journalistic integrity for the advancement of it's agenda, we don't even know if this is real or not. Hey DLSR, either provide a scan of the survey, identify the source so others may pose questions, or don't bring it to press. DLSR calling anything "propaganda" is extremely hypocritical.
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Oskee Wow Wow! | |
| | | | | | TheTruest
join:2003-02-18
Los Angeles, CA | im not even goin to argue wit you. i have came to the conclusion that you are a pathetic human being. | |
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earthstink0
join:2001-09-05
Wheaton, IL
| Re: SBC "push and shove" poll //im not even goin to argue wit you. i have came to the conclusion that you are a pathetic human being//
Uh .. you haven't argued with him at *all* from anything we can see in your posts.
Keep getting stoned in Cali. We've work to do in Illinois.
Dimwit. | |
| | | | | TheTruest
join:2003-02-18
Los Angeles, CA | Re: SBC "push and shove" poll hmm.
thats why i said i wasnt gonna even argue with him. You're a Genius. | |
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Ascon
@chcgil.ameritech
| "It's a survey for God's sake." (...) "DLSR calling anything "propaganda" is extremely hypocritical."
I am impressed again how well SBC's and Comcast's dirty tricks work. A SURVEY ??? There is nothing asked in those phone calls, what wasn't common knowledge anyway. EXTREMELY HYPOCRITICAL ??? Hello? Somebody at home, McFly?
Od course it is business propaganda. It is news to me that only government run cable and Internet services can transport pornographic content. It is also news to me that only government run phone services can be listened in. Who believes that Comcast's cable service does not offer and pushes (!) pornographic content and who believes that nobody listens to your phone calls over SBC wires, especially if your homecountry is somewhere in the Mideast, is naive. Give me a break!
I am calling this survey not just propaganda. These questions were perfectly wrapped lies, threats, deceptions and a great example that you do not have to care about laws in the US, if you have enough money in your pockets and 10 lawyers available on each finger.
In my opinion, this whole survey was nothing less than outrageous! I almost have to hold back my tears, that SBC/Comcast are worried of our citizens being flooded with porn. But I bet, after they have squashed the referendum with - again - lies, deception and threats, they forget all about their worries and think about how to raise service prices. | |
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bokamba
Chengdu Rocks
Premium
join:2002-04-05
Falls Church, VA
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| Those questions are definitely misleading. That's pretty low. I hope the residents of the Tri-City area don't fall for the tricks.
This is one of the reasons I'm usually suspicious of statistics. SBC and Comcast can take an unfair survey like this, and then they'll boil the results down to a short summary in which they say "the community is opposed to government-run broadband." | |
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batageek
Slave To The Duopoly
Premium
join:2003-01-25
| "MORASS OF POOR JUDGEMENT" Here's more from today's Kane County Chronicle
»ww2.kcchronicle.com/KCC/news/277···2885.bsp
Comcast, SBC say surveys 'legitimate research'
By DAN CHANZIT
Kane County Chronicle
Comcast and SBC officials on Friday distanced themselves from the backlash their telephone surveys generated but did not directly address how inflammatory language generates useful information.
How do you feel about tax money being used to pay for television pornography and suggestions that teachers would be cut, class sizes increased and afer-school programs eliminated if voters approved a government-operated broadband system were among telephone survey questions Tri-Cities residents answered this week.
Comcast and SBC acknowledge they are conducting telephone surveys, but have not directly commented on the specific questions. The Kane County Chronicle obtained a list of the questions from one survey, but neither company will confirm they created they created the specific queries.
The survey comes just more than one month before the April 1 election, when Tri-Cities voters will decide if Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles should use at least $53 million in tax-backed loans to start their own broadband service to provide telephone, Internet and cable television service.
Comcast and SBC officials acknowledge their survey is tied to the election, but denied the push poll was intended to sway broadband supporters into opposing the governments' initiative.
"We don't mean to upset anyone," SBC spokeswoman Andrea Brands said. "We are doing what any legitimate business would do. This is legitimate research."
"The things that have been said that we are asking about are not true," Comcast spokeswoman Pat Andrews-Keenen said.
Both companies said they plan to use the information to compete against a Tri-Cities broadband utility. The questions also ask residents about their views on mayoral leadership and if competing with two private companies is an appropriate use of public tax money.
"A principal purpose is to determine the public's current view of issues being placed before them on the next ballot," according to a letter Comcast corporate affairs director Carlo Cavallaro sent to Geneva officials on Friday. "We also hope to gain insights relating to customer's perceptions of their current cable service, perceptions of Comcast as a company, and the extent to which our competitors' services are being purchased."
Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke said the surveys are the first volleys in what will become a heated political battle.
"When the discussions first started about offering broadband, I advised the city council that this whole thing would become a minefield of political flack," Schielke said. "I guess we just wait and see what happens next. This is going to become intensified."
Earlier this week, Schielke and Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns demanded SBC and Comcast supply the survey questions.
"SBC has yet to respond," Burns said Friday. "It's upsetting. Their silence is an admission. I can only assume that by not hearing from them, they are scrambling to free themselves from this morass of poor judgment." | |
| BosstonesOwn
join:2002-12-15
Everett, MA
clubs:
·Comcast
·Comcast Formerly ..
| Comcast and sbc are morons They can try to compete as much as they want. When the system is complete and prices are low and speeds and services are up they will drop their prices and incresae services as well.
Either that or they will go around cutting fiber lines and pretend they didn't.
SBC and Comcast are like children in a sand box they don't want the toy till some one else has it.
Down with the phone and cable monopoly !!!!!!!!!!1 | |
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DaneJasper
Sonic.Net
Premium,VIP
join:2001-08-20
Santa Rosa, CA
clubs:
| Re: Comcast and sbc are morons said by BosstonesOwn :
SBC and Comcast are like children in a sand box they don't want the toy till some one else has it.
Down with the phone and cable monopoly !!!!!!!!!!1
I see an "ATT Broadband" tag next to your name - if you're truly anti-monopoly, why don't you switch to someone independent?
-Dane | |
| | | hescominsoon
join:2003-02-18
Brunswick, MD
·Comcast
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: Comcast and sbc are morons That person may not have nay other b-band option. I am currently with a group in Frederick, county MD looking to make a b-band provider that is a non-profit org and therefore able to bring lower cost b-band to Frederick, md. Hopefully if that takes off then it can get expanded. When/if Verizon decides to put a DSLAM in my CO i will go with another provider..but right now adelphia is my only choice. Adelphia has been very good here but a tad restrictive(it is their network..)..and that is why i would switch to a dsl line where i could run my own web hosting service.
this garbage that SBC and Comcast are doing is jsut downright despicable.
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God Blesshttp://www.faithwalk.org | |
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ravital
Just Another Pesky Independent Nh Voter
Premium
join:2001-07-19
Merrimack, NH
| said by DaneJasper :
I see an "ATT Broadband" tag next to your name - if you're truly anti-monopoly, why don't you switch to someone independent?-Dane
aaaahhh.. errrr... hmmmm... maybe... maybe that's the definition of a monopoly? Maybe there are no dependents, independents or anything else to switch to? Hey, there's the tag of another monopoly next to mine as well, so... nah, I'm just making this up, I could switch to anyone of the other 53,867 broadband options in my area anytime I wanted to, we all just love being miserable with our broadband service, us hicks who don't know about options right under our noses. | |
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My2Sense
@attbi.com
 from:
pnh102
thumbs down from:
VWSpeedRacer
| Tax Dollars Tax $$$ should be used to improve schools, fire, police and other necessary social services and not to built broadband networks. | |
| |
See 14 replies to this post | |
compugeek
I love making my own beer.
Premium
join:2002-07-30
Pickerington, OH | No different than a politician No different than if a person running for office would send you a questionnaire, they are just getting a feel for local sentiment on the subject.
You go SBC and Comcast...
Geek | |
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See 19 replies to this post | |
nasadude
join:2001-10-05
Rockville, MD | how about this What are your opinions on the following statements:
* comcast is an unregulated monopoly high speed internet provider
* comcast has just tripled their debt in taking over AT&T
* comcast customer service suks | |
| | | TACSPEED
Premium
join:2001-04-14
Tacoma, WA
·Advanced Stream
| Re: I got one of those calls here in Dayton The nice thing about these municipal networks is that the local mom and pop ISP has a fair chance of getting access to a high speed network.
Not to mention 30 dollar high speed Internet and some of the lowest cable TV prices in the nation.
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Fiber Optics is the future of high-speed internet access. Stop by the BBR Fiber Optic Forum. | |
|
george w bush
@speedsite.com | free movies?? -Should tax money be allowed to provide pornographic movies for residents?
Hell, I'm gonna move to St. Charles | |
| | TACSPEED
Premium
join:2001-04-14
Tacoma, WA
·Advanced Stream
| Re: free movies?? quote:
Should tax money be allowed to provide pornographic movies for residents?
Who said anything about free movies. The last time I checking our municipal TV prices. The porn channels where premium $$$ and they charge for regular cable TV.
quote:
Hell, I'm gonna move to St. Charles.
With 30 dollar cable Internet and low cable TV prices, I can see where that's going to be attractive.
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Fiber Optics is the future of high-speed internet access. Stop by the BBR Fiber Optic Forum. | |
| | 
VWSpeedRacer
join:2002-10-06
Essex Junction, VT
clubs:
| said by george w bush:
-Should tax money be allowed to provide pornographic movies for residents?
"If I say no, will you stop accepting government subsidies?"
:b
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Daniel Gwozdz (VW Speed Racer)
Water-cooled Volkswagen World - »www.wcvw.org | |
| Ted_C
join:2002-01-20
Joliet, IL
·Comcast
| The answer is in the question... "AT&T Broadband can't be trusted to provide service at an affordable price."
"-How would you rate your AT&T broadband service?"
Amazing the corporate brain in a bag crowd had the hair to even ask these questions. I'm thinking of moving to St. Charles just to get in on this. | |
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Kylemaul
Lovin' My Firefox 1.5.x
Premium
join:2001-03-30
North Port, FL
clubs:
·Verizon FIOS
| My vote only requires 2 conditions The questionnaire presented by the incumbent companies seems to be for a last ditch marketing blitz that will do nothing but prey upon those poor citizen's self-admitted fears. I don't live anywhere even close to the Illinois area, but here's my input to those who will be affected...
The only conditions I would stipulate would be:
1) that all decisions (pricing/expansion/upgrade/etc) made regarding municipal communications service will be made solely by locally elected officials.
2) that the municipal service (including hardware) itself and information pertaining to that service would not be allowed to be sold nor released to another entity.
Those two provisos taken care of, they'd definitely have my vote because it should guarantee (assuming no corrupt elected officials) that my rates should be kept as low as possible, and that, should I have an interest in a particular upgrade/service/channel/etc, then all I have to do is present that issue to my locally elected officials.
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'The tighter the RIAA squeezes their fingers, the more stars and systems will slip through their fingers.' | |
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redstepchild
Premium
join:2002-01-04
Birmingham, AL | what if they can't agree? what if one area feels they should get the upgrade first but the other says.. no this are first..
who has final say so?
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RedStepChild@dslr.net | |
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Kylemaul
Lovin' My Firefox 1.5.x
Premium
join:2001-03-30
North Port, FL
clubs:
·Verizon FIOS
| Re: what if they can't agree? ummm....your question is beyond the scope of my knowledge, although I would venture to guess that public pressure would be the ultimate enforcement of a timely decision to be made by public officials.
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'The tighter the RIAA squeezes their fingers, the more stars and systems will slip through their fingers.' | |
| sdh637
join:2003-02-22
Batavia, IL
| Not a fan of government, but . . . I don't usually think Government belongs in competition with business, but this is a legitimate area for the TriCities. By selling cable, phone, broadband internet together for around $80 (projected) I (as a resident) will be saving about $60 a month. The utilities will then wire my water & electric meters up & send accurate bills at lower cost since we won't need meter readers - sorry to those guys losing their jobs! But others will surely be needed to run the broadband network.
So the cities are more efficient, the cost is covered by us users - and you'd be afool not to take the deal, since if you don't your property taxes go up and you get nothing. Heck, who isn't forking out $40 for cable? Or more with movie channels? Another $40+ for phone? That makes the broadband internet basically FREE - a fantastic deal.
I wish they started this years ago - for the last 8 years the cable companies have been promising broadband in 'a couple years' and I'm still not wired for it. Now that (low end) DSL is available I'll go with that - until the tri-cities have their system in place, then I'll be the first customer!! | |
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ib50MbSoon
Formerly TwoKDialup
Premium
join:2002-06-07
Coloma, MI
| Re: Not a fan of government, but . . . said by sdh637 :
So the cities are more efficient, the cost is covered by us users - and you'd be afool not to take the deal, since if you don't your property taxes go up and you get nothing. Heck, who isn't forking out $40 for cable? Or more with movie channels? Another $40+ for phone? That makes the broadband internet basically FREE - a fantastic deal.
Our community has been ignored by the "dynamic duo" also. Currently I pay $70 for 2-way satellite Internet, $45 for DishNetwork TV and another $30 for SprintPCS phone service.
When our community rolls out its municipal broadband, I'll be saving around $300 a year also.
»www.swmiconnected.org
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Earthlink/DirecWay SRS | SatMex 5-990 | |
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ib50MbSoon
Formerly TwoKDialup
Premium
join:2002-06-07
Coloma, MI
| Unbelievable! I thought the RBOCs welcomed competition as long as they didn't have to share their lines. Fair enough, I guess.
So along comes a community that builds out their own infrastructure and guess who starts crying. Unbelievable, although it's what I expected.
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Earthlink/DirecWay SRS | SatMex 5-990 | |
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batageek
Slave To The Duopoly
Premium
join:2003-01-25 | Re: Unbelievable! In fact that was the exact line used by the local SBC gov rep...."We welcome competition." | |
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BrianDamage
We Are The Hounds From Hell
Premium
join:2001-08-14
Rowlett, TX
clubs:
| Anyone who believes that really needs to read more into the current RBOC strategies currently being undertaken to bolster the federal and state regulatory freedom that they desire.
Also, read the Tauzen-Dingell Act (HR 1542) which passed the HOR but died in the Senate, because it is the template for their current strategy.
Also, follow the argument for dismembering UNE (Unbundled Network Element) provisions of TA1996, and you will understand.
RBOCs welcome competition.....uh, no. That's just laughable.
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The rich get richer, the poorer get the picture, the bombs never hit you when yer down so low...some got pollution, others evolution, there must be some solution but I just don't know....briandamage@dslr.net | |
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must i
@speakeasy.n
| ***** I live in St. Charles, and you guys are a heck of a lot luckier than I am at this point.... $115/mo for minimal DSL service, $52/mo for cable, $75/mo for telephone! (This doesn't even count my darn cell phone!)
Hope against hope, this referendum just has to pass!!! | |
| | james1969jw
join:2002-01-12
Indianapolis, IN | Re: ***** That is a bad survay.
and it looks like per "must i" thew bill will pass. At those prices it has to pass. Wow. | |
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DonChicago
Copper-Free Last-Mile
join:2002-02-10
Lincolnshire, IL
| The Big Lie "The proposed plan creates a large expensive and inefficient bureaucracy like that of Amtrak and the Post Office."
I'm sure we're all much better off with the large and inefficient phone company and cable company near-monopolies...
"We don't mean to upset anyone," SBC spokeswoman Andrea Brands said. "We are doing what any legitimate business would do. This is legitimate research."
I guess when you lie as much as SBC does, you become blinded to how obvious your lies are...
While I tend to favor private enterprise and entrepreneurship over government, these Cable TV and Telephone monopolies are far, far away from either concept.
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My network is 98% copper-free | |
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KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | Wonder if SBC will "wake the dead" for the Vote ... Wonder how many formerly deceased citizens will be returning to life at the behest of SBC/Comcast to vote against the proposal... | |
| | FlameBait
join:2001-07-18
Taft, CA |  It depends
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FoxValley
| Re: It depends "All taxpayers might pay higher taxes for only a few users"
Funny, I don't complain when I pay taxes for the schools that I have no children attending.
Also, is this SBC the same SBC who told me "Eh, you're town isn't important enough to offer broadband in for the forseeable future"?!?!?!? | |
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SBC "push and shove" poll
) set up its own power company years ago and it's been a huge success. I think these projects can be done and done well. These days it seems like there's less bureaucracy and red tape in government than there are in some of the Fortune 500s.