Politics

Politics

There are 1,051 posts filed in Politics (this is page 85 of 106).

Raising the broadband bar in NC

There’s been plenty afoot in the N.C. General Assembly this session regarding broadband internet, as those couple of you who read my blog are well aware. Now there’s an effort by the telecom industry to define “broadband service” in North Carolina. House Bill 283 would define any Internet service with speeds faster than 1.5 Mbps down and 384 kbps up.

So let me ask you … how many of you would consider that “broadband?” How many of you would die a slow death using the Internet at those speeds? A measly 1.5 Mbps/384kbs might have been considered “broadband” 15 years ago but it certainly doesn’t pass for that today, now that countries like Japan have jaw-dropping 160 Mbps cable modem service. Arguably these slow speeds weren’t considered “broadband” 15 years ago, either!
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Raleigh opposes H1252/S1004

Yesterday afternoon, Raleigh City Council passed a resolution opposing H1252/S1004, the so-called “Level Playing Field Act.” This opposition was mentioned prominently in today’s committee meeting, where I definitely think it swayed opinions.

Here’s the text of the opposition resolution:

A RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE CONCERN OF THE CITY OF RALEIGH ABOUT CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF RECENTLY INTRODUCED LEGISLATION REGULATING GOVERNMENT PROVISION OF BROADBAND SERVICE AND CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE.

Whereas, Senate Bill 1004 and House Bill 1252, companion bills entitled The Level Playing Field Act, have been introduced in the 2009 Regular Session of the North Carolina General Assembly; and

Whereas, it is possible that the bills do not provide the level playing field implied in their titles for local governments versus private providers; and
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Mr. Turner goes to Raleigh

The anti-municipal Internet bill written by Time Warner Cable and pushed by Ty Harrell has really pissed me off. We fought this battle two years ago but like the undead it keeps returning.

I’ve been spending my Copious Free Time participating any way I can in getting this defeated. The past two Wednesdays, I’ve spent my lunch break in the N.C. House Science and Technology Committee room, watching as Harrell and others pass this train-wreck legislation as quickly as possible. As last week’s meeting, six out of seven speakers opposed the bill, with the debate running so late the committee could not take a vote. The only speaker in favor was Time Warner Cable’s Brad Phillips, whose company effectively wrote the bill.
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Why we need municipal Internet

Imagine, if you will, a world where the streets in this country are privately owned by the country’s shipping companies. In our more modern example, Let’s say your particular street is owned by a company called FredEx.

Now let’s say you want to order a CD from a far-away retailer. Realizing that it owns the street in front of your house and that few other options exist, FredEx chooses to triple the shipping rate it charges to deliver your CD. And why shouldn’t it? FredEx knows it has the best delivery path available to your house, if not an outright monopoly.

Sure, you could always choose to have your CD delivered by your postman, Mo Dem, but his is a walking route so it’s painfully slow. On the other hand, you could ship your CD by the “competing” shipper, U Pay Us, but FredEx still gets its cut for its road.

What once looked like competition is anything but. You’re trapped.
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CAC success

I’m back from another successful East CAC meeting. It was a great meeting: actually ended somewhat on time. We’re really getting things done now and it’s a blast to see it all happening.

More later. I’m ready for bed!

Long, busy, weekend

It’s been quite a long, busy weekend. Saturday morning, we participated in the SPCA dog walk around Raleigh. After doing 3K around downtown with a tired Labrador and somewhat tired kids, Kelly took Hallie off to her friend Suzanna’s birthday while Travis and I did ten miles of biking on the greenway. T and I had a “great adventure” at the foot of Lassiter Mill Falls, practicing skipping stones into the water, before we turned back and headed home. I never realized how beautiful Crabtree Creek is there, looking east from below the falls. I was wishing I had thought to bring my camera.

Once reunited, we all headed over to our neighbor Randy’s house for his annual “Earth Day Birthday” party. Live music, beer, and steamed oysters: yum! The kids tore around while we socialized. Our whole tired lot headed for bed too soon!
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Late to the tea party

So, where have these tax protesters been for the past eight years? You know, when Bush went six years without vetoing a single spending bill? When Bush blew a $230 billion budget surplus in his first year and then signed us up for an extra $3,000,000,000,000 of debt? It was fine to spend money on bombs for the past eight years but once Obama got this economy dumped in his lap suddenly it’s his fault.

Sorry, teabaggers: you’re eight years too late.

Senator Cooper?

Bob Geary weighed in today on Attorney General Roy Cooper’s chances of taking Richard Burr’s Senate seat. While I agree with most of what Geary says, calling the three-time attorney general’s campaign skills “unproven” isn’t true in my view.

I’ve seen Cooper work a room. He seems so genuine – there is no hint of guile. He seems in all ways to be just who he is: a sharp, warm, friendly guy who is happy to serve our state.

Burr may be a formidable opponent or he may be a pushover, but my money will be on Roy Cooper. Cooper can win any race he chooses to enter.

Chapel Hill urged to oppose Senate broadband bill

BY DANIEL GOLDBERG : The Herald-Sun
Apr 14, 2009

CHAPEL HILL — For the second time in two years, North Carolina municipalities are being urged to push back against legislation that would make it more difficult for local governments to provide cable and broadband services.

The Chapel Hill Town Council will receive a citizen petition on Wednesday that asks for a resolution in opposition to Senate Bill 1004, the so-called “Level Playing Field” bill. Small business owner Brian Russell, the petitioner, believes that the bill essentially prevents municipalities from providing broadband services and stifles economic development.

Read more behind the Herald-Sun’s idiotic RegisterWall.