Anti-Muni Broadband Bills Country Wide

Ant writes "Broadband Reports says that 14 and possibly more states that have or will pass(ed) bills banning community-run broadband. Free Pass shows a map breakdown of the states while Tallahassee.com takes a look at a newly proposed bill in Florida, backed by Sprint, BellSouth, Verizon, and Comcast, designed to bog down the muni-development process."

Don't worry, America...

[Anonymous Coward]

Community-backed broadband isn't the way we want to go. That sort of stuff is basically anti-capitalist at heart. Really. These companies might look like they're in it for the money, but really, they have our best interests at heart. Seriously. I promise.

Oh, and Saddam really did have all those weapons. Honest. I swear.

USA! USA!

[koi88]

Community is communism. In capitalism we trust.

Re:I don't think governments should be competing..

[gowen]

All your plan would lead to is socialism, then to communism and then where would we be?

Why, we'd be right at the bottom of that Slippery Slope.

Re:Like I have always known...

[eno2001]

4) Looking up who talked to little sally online the night before he was raped and killed reasons.

Urggh? "Little Sally" must be one tough little girl. And you left out:

5) Profit!!!

Re:I don't think governments should be competing..

[Anonymous Coward]

"I don't think the governmnet should be protecting people from other parts of government."

That, sir, was hilarious. I'll put you down as "not a fan of checks and balances" then, shall I?

Re:libertarian arguments against government works

[Anonymous Coward]

As a libertarian reading your post, this is what I see:

"These laws make about as much sense as a law that prohibits a government from maintaining a highway system with my paycheck. A government, with its existing rights of way and networks, is in a prime position to build out computer networks with my paycheck, particulary in places where corporations don't feel they can make a profit. In other words this is service-welfare. I'm really really tired of libertarian arguments that don't take into account all the hidden and structural and voluntary subsidies that alter the landscape of the supposedly Utopian Adam Smithian Capitalist Marketplace that they claim to want to protect. True capitalism of this sort means that only the strong survive - your next door neighbor with a gun. WTF? So it's not communism when a government decides to do something with my paycheck - we're a community, we live together, and if our governments want to build infrastructure with my paycheck that benefits everyone, let them!

Touchdown!

[UES]

As we all know, Privately owned things can always deliver better service.

As evidence, I offer the fact that the Privately owned Cincinnati Bengals ALWAYS defeat the Community owned Green Bay Packers.

...and your head is in the clouds.

[lysium]

Which would you rather have? 3 or 4 companies vying to offer broadband?

You have 3 or 4 sets of DSL and cable wires running into your house? That sounds great. There are parts of New York City that totally lack DSL and cable. In 2005. I wonder why, after so many years? Surely the free market would not let such a need go unfilled!

Re:I'm not sure if I'll ever understand this

[Jeremi]

All the curruption and greed in the private sector is 10 fold in government.

But through the miracle of competition, the private sector has shrunk this ratio to only 4-fold. At this rate we'll have parity by 2010.