IndyWeek takes a closer look at the recent efforts in North Carolina by incumbents AT&T, Time Warner Cable and Embarq to get laws passed that would ban underserved cities from wiring themselves with broadband (even if locals vote to do so). Dozens of such bills were passed in multiple states while people were napping, but such efforts faded in recent years as the public became more aware of the efforts. This particular bill is courtesy of State Sen. David Hoyle, D-Gaston -- who says he's simply concerned about "competing with private enterprise who pay the taxes." Except many of these projects aren't using taxpayer dollars, and carriers usually get plenty of tax breaks:Hoyle meanwhile insists that the bill isn't influenced by telecom lobbyists -- except for the fact (like with all of these bills) it was written by them. He also insists that any broadband availability issues in the state are "bullshit," based entirely on figures from Connected Nation (which is a lobbying and policy extension of major carriers):Of course Hoyle's words "sound a lot like" Time Warner Cable's because that's who wrote the bill, that's who wrote the talking points that Hoyle's reading, and that's who contributed to Hoyle's campaign. You'll of course recognize Connected Nation, the industry-backed broadband mapping organization. Their primary job is to convince the public there is no broadband penetration or competition problems -- just in case anyone gets the pesky idea of doing something about either. They just received $1.6 million in taxpayer money to accomplish this task in North Carolina (strange Hoyle and company didn't mind that).

Meanwhile, operations like the community fiber build in Wilson, North Carolina say Hoyle's bill forces them to hold a referendum any time they want to finance repairs or add new customers, and is designed to bog them down in bureaucracy. Wilson's "Greenlight" project -- which doesn't use taxpayer money and offers speeds that shame Time Warner Cable -- has helped deliver competition (pdf) to Wilson residents for the first time ever. Wilson residents are seeing lower rates from Time Warner Cable as a result -- something Hoyle clearly wants to "protect" Wilson residents from.