[TriLUG] TW and Embarq work to keep Wilson style internet from spreading

[Kevin Hunter]

Or to the NC state representatives?

At 1:31pm -0400 on Fri, 01 May 2009, Michael Kimsal wrote:
> Well said.  Have you ever considered writing for a magazine?  :)
> 
> On Fri, May 1, 2009 at 1:25 PM, Shawn Hartsock <hartsock at acm.org> wrote:
> 
>> Aside from the other arguments made, this bill fundamentally changes
>> the relationship of regulation to telecommunications. It explicitly
>> defines that telecommunications are not like water, sewer,
>> electricity, or garbage. This implies the attitude that high speed
>> internet access is not a vital infrastructural feature to a community.
>>
>> My question is: Why is internet service unlike those services? Is the
>> internet fundamentally different? Is the internet not a vital
>> infrastructure like roads are?
>>
>> Passing this bill will codify the point of view of today's law makers
>> on tomorrows generations. It will solidify the stance that the
>> internet is a luxury that you do not need it to survive, thrive, or
>> conduct business and is therefore not in the domain of Public Utility.
>> It will make NC much less attractive to companies that view the
>> internet and new technologies as vital to their survival.
>>
>> In summary: it will indeed level the playing field at the price of
>> making the field worthless. The playing field is indeed unfair but,
>> incidentally, guess who owns the playing field? You do. Not passing
>> this bill will create an unfair environment that favors the citizens
>> of North Carolina.