 
Aquaman1940
join:2004-08-10
Chesapeake, VA | Gimme some fiber! bring it to me then. I speak for everyone here when I say- The Hampton Roads area wants it!!!!! But bring it to Chesapeake first. | |
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 | Vonage User5
join:2004-05-15
Hillsborough, NC | Re: Gimme some fiber! lets all say PORK!!
laying fiber should be financed from private investments not government money. | |
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| | Network Guy
join:2000-08-25
New York
 ·PHONE POWER
·Broadvox Direct
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: Gimme some fiber! said by Vonage User5  :lets all say PORK!! laying fiber should be financed from private investments not government money. What's wrong with using settlement money toward a common good for the community?
I'd rather have a constituent do it that way instead of funding it out of tax revenue. Or would you rather have to ante up another municipal tax in your paychecks? | |
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72276539
Premium
join:2001-01-19
Atlanta, GA
| Re: Gimme some fiber! said by Network Guy :said by Vonage User5 :lets all say PORK!! laying fiber should be financed from private investments not government money. What's wrong with using settlement money toward a common good for the community? Because the whole premise behind the eternal bitching by the various states was that tobacco was directly causing huge increases in health costs. By using this money for something other then health costs they are proving that is not the case. Frankly since they are not using the money for the purpose it was intended they should give it back.
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RIP Dimebag- August 20, 1966 to December 8th, 2004. | |
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| | | | Network Guy
join:2000-08-25
New York
·PHONE POWER
·Broadvox Direct
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: Gimme some fiber! said by 72276539 :Because the whole premise behind the eternal bitching by the various states was that tobacco was directly causing huge increases in health costs. Did the article not say that they're using SOME of the money for the build-out, not all of it? Do you really believe that 38% Uncle Sam takes out of your pay goes directly toward crucial city services and programs?
Point is the money is being thrown back at the community, it's not filling greedy politician's cofers. | |
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72276539
Premium
join:2001-01-19
Atlanta, GA
| Re: Gimme some fiber! said by Network Guy :said by 72276539 :Because the whole premise behind the eternal bitching by the various states was that tobacco was directly causing huge increases in health costs. Did the article not say that they're using SOME of the money for the build-out, not all of it? Do you really believe that 38% Uncle Sam takes out of your pay goes directly toward crucial city services and programs? Point is the money is being thrown back at the community, it's not filling greedy politician's cofers. Except when I submit myself to taxes I do not specifically state what the taxes are to be used for, i.e.- 2 dollars national defense, 3 dollars for. This money was specifically for the state to use for tobacco health care costs.
Obviously the money did fill the greedy politician coffers. They were greedy and wanted this money, now they are not using it for what it should be used for. Instead they are porking it up. I have a feeling in 10 years they'll come back saying the money isn't enough and try some more extortion.
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RIP Dimebag- August 20, 1966 to December 8th, 2004. | |
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| | | | | | Network Guy
join:2000-08-25
New York
·PHONE POWER
·Broadvox Direct
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: Gimme some fiber! said by 72276539 :This money was specifically for the state to use for tobacco health care costs. Obviously the money did fill the greedy politician coffers. They were greedy and wanted this money, now they are not using it for what it should be used for. Instead they are porking it up. Do you know for a fact the money is not being used for both covering health care costs and the fiber project?
I would understand if the sick, dying kids at the hospital from second hand smoking are being told they're to stay there and left to die 'cause there's no money to help them recuperate. | |
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72276539
Premium
join:2001-01-19
Atlanta, GA
| Re: Gimme some fiber! said by Network Guy :said by 72276539 :This money was specifically for the state to use for tobacco health care costs. Obviously the money did fill the greedy politician coffers. They were greedy and wanted this money, now they are not using it for what it should be used for. Instead they are porking it up. Do you know for a fact the money is not being used for both covering health care costs and the fiber project? I would understand if the sick, dying kids at the hospital from second hand smoking are being told they're to stay there and left to die 'cause there's no money to help them recuperate. The fiber project is being covered with tobacco settlement money correct? Then it is not going towards tobacco healthcare costs. If the healthcare costs were not that high they should have socked the money away for future healthcare costs, or of course they could control their own fiscal spending and not use the tobacco money as a personal ATM.
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RIP Dimebag- August 20, 1966 to December 8th, 2004. | |
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| | | | | | | xrobertcmx
Premium
join:2001-06-18
Sterling, VA
clubs:  | I'm fairly certain it isn't used for healthcare, if it was most of us wouldn't be footing double digit percent increases in health care costs while benefits decline.
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4 More years and we won't have a country. | |
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| | | | | | | raderator
join:2003-07-22
Conklin, NY
·PHONE POWER
| said by Network Guy :said by 72276539 :I would understand if the sick, dying kids at the hospital from second hand smoking are being told they're to stay there and left to die 'cause there's no money to help them recuperate. 2nd hand smoke is bunk. It's diluted by a million times. Besides, fruits and veggies (like tobacco) are chock full of carcinogens. A little is good for you, like radiation and most viruses. People who live in pristine environments (like rich momma's boy FDR) are more sickly. | |
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| | | | | Sunburn
join:2000-10-05
Denver, CO
| LoL,
You guys should know because I do this for a living. The tobacco money was scheduled to come in over several years to the states. Many of them elected to take a lump sum by selling the future revenue to investment banks/bond holders. They took a big piece of the pie and threw it away on a discount and underwriter fees right there.....
If that was not enough several states are having tax payers (us) help finance the bonds! LoL, the states are throwing half the settlement money away and charging us to do it at the same time. Anyway, thought that was pretty sick. | |
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mikef1
Mike
join:2004-10-28
Littlestown, PA
1 edit | I agree.
What ends up happening is the states spend all of it mostly on stuff not related to healthcare or smoking prevention. Then the next year they a budget shortfall.
Up go the taxes.
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mike
HouseOfMike | |
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| | | | hottboiinnc
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH | Okay. so you mean Ohio should give back money we got because we build shools with the money? | |
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mikef1
Mike
join:2004-10-28
Littlestown, PA
| Re: Gimme some fiber! said by hottboiinnc :Okay. so you mean Ohio should give back money we got because we build shools with the money? the whole premise behind the eternal bitching by the various states was that tobacco was directly causing huge increases in health costs. By using this money for something other then health costs they are proving that is not the case. Frankly since they are not using the money for the purpose it was intended they should give it back. Absolutely
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mike
HouseOfMike | |
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| | | | | | hottboiinnc
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH
 ·Time Warner Cable
·buckeye cable
| Re: Gimme some fiber! well if you think the money that was taken should be used for only what it was meant then. Ohio schools are owed a lot of money due to the fact that our lottery system was created for the public school system. Although over the last couple years the money is going to pay the state debit off.
So actually then the state should have to give back all the money they spent of the School's back to the school system. Good luck with that! | |
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mikef1
Mike
join:2004-10-28
Littlestown, PA | Re: Gimme some fiber! That’s comparing apples and oranges.
Lotto players were not sued/forced to play the lotto, to pay for potential damage done by Lotto players.
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mike
HouseOfMike | |
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| | bmn
? ? ?
Premium,ExMod 2003-06
join:2001-03-15
hiatus
| said by Vonage User5 :lets all say PORK!! laying fiber should be financed from private investments not government money. Problem is that companies won't invest in some areas... | |
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| | | Vonage User5
join:2004-05-15
Hillsborough, NC | Re: Gimme some fiber! That is why capitalism will ALWAYS prevail over socialism. | |
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| | | | bmn
? ? ?
Premium,ExMod 2003-06
join:2001-03-15
hiatus
1 edit | Re: Gimme some fiber! said by Vonage User5 :That is why capitalism will ALWAYS prevail over socialism. Proof ? Speaking in absolute terms, like always, is an easy way to set one's self up for being wrong.
And how is the failure of private industry to invest in certain areas a reason why capitalism prevails over socialism ? Oh wait, it isn't. The failure of industry to invest in certain areas doesn't prove anything to that affect. | |
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| | gh4456
Premium,VIP
join:2004-04-07
Beverly Hills, CA | Well part of our tobacco money in NC went to build a freakin tobacco leaf warehouse!!!! Go figure | |
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| metal1
Premium
join:2002-10-27
Melfa, VA | What about the Eastern Shore.I know alot of people here are stuck on dial-up. | |
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JSRoman
Premium
join:2005-03-10
Callahan, FL
2 edits | Tobacco Settlement? What happened to tobacco money being used for health care cost related to smoking and to encourage people to stop smoking? This is nice but this was not what the tobacco settlement was meant for. | |
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| chemaupr
join:2005-06-06
Alexandria, VA
| Re: Tobacco Settlement? said by JSRoman :What happened to tobacco money being used for health care cost related to smoking and to encourage people to stop smoking? This is nice but this was not what the tobacco settlement was meant for. for that they will keep increasing the taxes for tabacco until you have to change to pot becouse will be cheaper  | |
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Titus Pullo
I came, I saw, I slept
join:2004-06-26
·Embarq
| said by JSRoman :What happened to tobacco money being used for health care cost related to smoking and to encourage people to stop smoking? This is nice but this was not what the tobacco settlement was meant for. Some truth there, but many local governments used the money to cover cost over-runs on crony contracts with kickbacks, or covered essential services DUE to shortfalls created by the latter. At least the community gets SOMETHING from this.
Also, you can bet your bottom dollar that if government in any form is involved, business gets its share. The anti-government competition people don't ever stop to think that government is owned by business, and they don't fart without approval from those with hands in their pockets. The whole 'less government' argument is piffle wrapped in a red herring: If it's Government, it's business. You can't cut the head from the body.
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"The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppose." -- Frederick Douglass | |
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loeakaodas
join:2005-01-31
Sarasota, FL | What about Verizon? Isn't Verizon allready wiring Virginia with Fiber, whats the purpose of this, competition? | |
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grapkoski
Premium
join:2004-05-28
Washington, DC
| Re: What about Verizon? What people forget is that this is for the rural areas of our country, somewhere I doubt FiOS will be deployed for decades. I live in a city, but you can easily tell how these people are deprived for just living in the country and no, everyone can't live in a city. | |
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| | loeakaodas
join:2005-01-31
Sarasota, FL | Re: What about Verizon? I live in a relatively rural are (Sarasota) it is afluent, but can be very rural and we are getting FIOS. In reality it just a matter of time... | |
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shane349
Premium
join:2005-03-21
Delta, OH
·buckeye cable
| wow.. im moving it seems that virginia is the place to be if you want fast internet. i meen, they have verizon FIOS, Adelphia Extream, and what ever else might be there, its amazing, and now the state is rolling out fiber. where is the love for the rest of the country? where i am the only option is cable, no dsl, wireless, or anything. and thats in ohio, 30 miles from downtown toledo! | |
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WirelessMajr
Premium
join:2005-08-03
College Place, WA
| Bring some of that fiber to .... Bring some of that Fiber to Fredericksburg..unless you live in a housing development that is being built this year, then no FIOS for you. And I have a feeling that the rest of the city, and county of Spotsy will not see any wiring for awhile to come.
So please, bring some of that fiber to Spotsy, specifically the Massaponix area, as we're seeing a good amount of build-up here. | |
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wildcards2000
| Double Dipping Let me get this straight. States for year have been taxing the tobacco, making millions off of people's addictions. Now turn around and "SUE" tobacco companies for the addictions, saying due to the health issues. And now use the money to fund pork.
We should be able to sue the states for the profiteering through taxes. States are just as guilty as the companies that made the stuff. 
Shame on you! | |
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| Sunburn
join:2000-10-05
Denver, CO
| Re: Double Dipping said by wildcards2000 :Let me get this straight. States for year have been taxing the tobacco, making millions off of people's addictions. Now turn around and "SUE" tobacco companies for the addictions, saying due to the health issues. And now use the money to fund pork. We should be able to sue the states for the profiteering through taxes. States are just as guilty as the companies that made the stuff. Shame on you! States raping the pocketbook:
Taxes for Tobacco: they get billions
Sue for Money: they get billions
Issue bonds to get the money now: Loose billions and get half of the total.
Charge taxpayers again to pay for discount and underwriting fees for bonds: Cost is billions.
Raise your taxes for health care impact from tobacco due to the mis-appropriated funds: Hundreds of billions.
Who pays for it? Tax payers 95% and people who buy tobacco 5%. What a great frikin deal? The only people who make out are the government's that collect our money (in terms of jobs for themselves) and the people awarded contracts to spend this money. It is just amazing when you think about where the money actually comes from (us) and how much mismanagement will cost us...and this is all because we like to use tobacco, cancer causing or not. We are all punished because our free will can be turned into a liability for lawyers to get rich on. | |
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rdmiller
join:2005-09-23
Richmond, VA
| A Little Background This is my first post on BBR. The news article does not give enough background to understand everything that is happening here.
The tobacco settlement specifies that states with large areas of small tobacco farms need to use some of the settlement money to rehabilitate these areas. Virginia built a 4-lane highway (US 58) along the southern edge of the state from the port of Hampton Roads to the coalfields of Southwest Virginia. This fibre-optic line runs along that route.
In addition to abandoned tobacco farms, this is an area of empty textile plants and furniture factories.
Here is a year-old article that explains some of the background.
»www.networkworld.com/news/2004/0···cco.html | |
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| rdmiller
join:2005-09-23
Richmond, VA | Re: A Little Background Sorry. It was a very good article. Now I can't connect to the server. | |
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winky
Turn Left At The Moon
join:2001-02-11
Saint Louis, MO
| If a news article actually gave ALL the information and the whys and wherefores of an issue, it wouldn't be news; it would be history. To further clarify my observation; if the issue or event was thoroughly documented to include the reasoning and parameters involved in making any decisions or any actions taken concerning the event or issue in question, it would be difficult to put a provocative headline on it. Headlines sell news. That's why at 5pm they make a shocking and outrageous statement about a story at 10pm, at which time you're suckered into watching some stupid story about a lost pet and it's struggle to overcome adversity or finding it's lost chew toy, or something equally inane.
You can see how your post containing ALL the information has taken the wind out of the sails of even our most adversarial posters.
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Is that a real poncho, or is that a Sears poncho? | |
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TL1
join:2003-12-09
VA
| Tobacco settlement It may sound like the money is not being used for the intended purpose, but for someone (myself) that lives in one of these rural areas of southwest VA this is a great help. I work for a community health center and because of this we were able to reduce our monthly telecom bill by $500, so in some ways it is being used for healthcare costs. Also, some of the settlement money provides college grant dollars to individuals who otherwise could not afford tuition. In addition to being in the middle of nowhere, many businesses have chosen not to locate here because of the lack of communication lines. FIOS will probably never be deployed in this part of the state. In an area where the unemployment rate tops 10% in certain counties this is needed. So it may seem like the settlement money is being used unwisely, but until you live here you will never understand. | |
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MSauk
MSauk
Premium
join:2002-01-17
Sandy, UT | Re: Tobacco settlement hmm gov't not using money for what it was supposed to be using it for, wow that is new! | |
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Titus Pullo
I came, I saw, I slept
join:2004-06-26
·Embarq
| Re: Tobacco settlement said by MSauk :hmm gov't not using money for what it was supposed to be using it for, wow that is new! Yeah, usually it goes into business coffers. These businesses, in turn, kick back a portion of whatever they gained by the original legislation to the lackeys that voted for the bill(s).
You anti government guys need to wake up and follow the money instead of flailing away with MSM-created perception as your only guide.
Where does the money go that government spends? Does government build cruise missiles and GPS systems? NO. They doll the money out in the form of contracts to private businesses. Is America really this f'n ignorant of how their own government works?
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"The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppose." -- Frederick Douglass | |
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FTCXtreme
join:2005-03-14
New Braintree, MA | Re: Tobacco settlement Governemtn not using money for what it was meant for. Look what happens when that happens New orleans is fucked up, and its gonna get wrecked again in like 2 hours. | |
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Titus Pullo
I came, I saw, I slept
join:2004-06-26
·Embarq
| Re: Tobacco settlement said by FTCXtreme :Governemtn not using money for what it was meant for. Look what happens when that happens New orleans is fucked up, and its gonna get wrecked again in like 2 hours. Yes, because government works primarily for business interests, not the voting public. Government takes your money and uses it as business sees fit in most but not all cases. But now that the jig is up, they're moving to privatize everything so as to avoid the peanut gallery all together.
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"The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppose." -- Frederick Douglass | |
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alchav
join:2002-05-17
Palm Desert, CA
·Pacific Bell - SBC
|  Here we go again, what is Muni Fiber?
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Ham band guy
join:2005-07-13
Minneapolis, MN
| RE:Tobacco settlement Well,at least they are installing good,highly scalable technology that will serve the state well into the future. At least its not more BPL junk.
As most of the astute readers of the forum know,the limiting factor with fiber optics is the electronics at each end,which is continuously evolving. As someone who has 20+ years in network technology,this sounds like a good approach. | |
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sadpanda05
@Dial1.Was | still on 28k in va enjoy your uberfast connections! | |
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Techman21
join:2005-04-14
Richmond, VA
1 edit | We do have broadband... Heh. I have an interesting perspective to add to this discussion as I just moved to the Southside area about a year and half ago. Jan. will be 2yrs.
About 3-4 months after I moved in I got DSL. The ability to get DSL was there when I moved, I just couldn't afford it. The speed rates at the time were 768/512. Then when I hopped back on BBR to check a few things I saw the thread for 3.0Mbps on Sprint DSL. So I called Sprint up and upgraded my plan. We now have 5.0Mbps service available but I'm happy with my 3.0Mbps and bill as it is.
But to get down to it there are several major areas that I live near. South Hill (being where I live in town), Boydton ( a very very small town), Clarksville (much larger than Boydton), and Chase City. South Boston is somewhat close to Clarksville, but I've never been there. Basically Verizon owns half the lines in the county and the other half goes to Sprint. Verizon has DSL available to Clarksville (within 3mi r) and in Chase City (within 3mi r). The rest of the county has issues with "the last mile". Its just too rural. Many homes are positioned away from the main roads. Much of the area is farm land...to Tobacco fields nonetheless.
LoL. I pass at least 3 Tobacco fields on my way to work.
I also have access to broadband cable, I just choose DSL atm. I've been thinking of switching because for roughly the same cost (possibly lower) I could get tv + broadband and ditch my land line and keep my cell phone. Although imo solely using a cell phone is a bad idea. They just aren't reliable enough in case of emergencies (imo).
I'll tell you though, these people always ask me when broadband is coming. My answer is usually to call their phone company or cable company. OR call the Sat. although I normally mention the costs involved with sat. and they say the hell with it. The phone systems around these areas need to be upgraded before any real broadband can be put in place imo. Line noise is a HUGE problem (at least near Boydton/Clarksville) area, usually only after storms in the populated areas. The rural areas always seem to have problems no matter what. My guess is they use really old unshielded/poorly shielded cabling.
Government officials live in NOVA, thus the *need* for high speed. lol. Seriously though I think its due to so many large businesses have their headquarters there along with the population density (all along the Metro area). | |
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Virginia's 700 Mile Fiber Smorgasbord