Community Gigabit Expansion in Tennessee Killed by Comcast, AT&T

[LJ Ellis]

Community Gigabit Expansion in Tennessee Killed by Comcast, AT&T

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A city-run electric utility in Tennessee attempted to offer customers competitively-priced gigabit internet service; however, a horde of 27 lobbyists with Comcast and AT&T stepped in to kill the project. The utility's plans were dashed when legislation that would have loosened Tennessee's broadband regulations died following a 5-3 vote.

Rep. Kevin Brooks' legislation would have simply allowed utilities to expand their broadband service areas into surrounding communities to which they don't provide electricity. Unfortunately, Comcast and AT&T had the final say.

Said Rep. Brooks: "It's a testament to the power of lobbying against this bill and not listening to our electorate. We have thousands of petitions that were signed."

"The voice of the people today was not heard."

Making matters more difficult to swallow for the people of Tennessee who wanted expanded gigabit options is the fact that one of the politicians who shot down the legislation is a former exec at AT&T, Rep. Patsy Hazlewood.

Source: DSL Reports [http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ATT-Comcast-Kill-Local-Gigabit-Expansion-Plans-in-Tennessee-136503]
Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Permalink

 

[Janaschi]

I 'unno 'bout the rest of you, but I love me some good ol' fashioned monopolies. And I especially like getting rammed up the rear by the wonderful incarnation of sunshine and leprechaun orgies at the end of rainbows, also known as our dear Comcast. Also, I live in Tennessee - land of the sunburned elbows sticking out of pickup truck windows, tween cashiers that cannot make change for 5 dollars without a computer, and Asian markets that will get you shot if you walk within 100 yards of their locations.

So this is definitely a win-win-win for me.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

I really loathe Comcast as a company. In fact, most telecom companies in general.

 

[Worgen]

The only reason everyone is eager for google fiber is because our existing options for broadband are such douchbags.

 

[American Fox]

Fucking Scumbags.

 

[Coach Morrison]

I 'unno 'bout the rest of you, but I love me some good ol' fashioned monopolies. And I especially like getting rammed up the rear by the wonderful incarnation of sunshine and leprechaun orgies at the end of rainbows, also known as our dear Comcast. Also, I live in Tennessee - land of the sunburned elbows sticking out of pickup truck windows, tween cashiers that cannot make change for 5 dollars without a computer, and Asian markets that will get you shot if you walk within 100 yards of their locations.

So this is definitely a win-win-win for me.

I live in Memphis and people are getting shot on the interstate, what a fun state we live in.

As for the article, of course they shut it down. They are scared shitless by Chattanooga and don't want the rest of the state to get any bright ideas.

 

[Weresquirrel]

Can someone explain how this isn't illegal? Surely this is the exact bullshit that anti-monopoly laws are supposed to combat. So much for the free market.

 

[Fulbert]

I live in Memphis and people are getting shot on the interstate, what a fun state we live in.

Surely it's the violent videogames that are to blame for that. If anything, those telecoms companies are doing everyone a service by denying cheap and fast broadband access to all those videogame-downloading, online-playing maniacs.

 

[mtarzaim02]

I thought gigabyte access was critical for businesses to remain competitive et reactive.
Isn't it a sufficient excuse to hang optic fibers between every cactuses?

As usual with republicans, they only promote free market when their own market isn't threaten.

 

[bluegate]

Can someone explain how this isn't illegal? Surely this is the exact bullshit that anti-monopoly laws are supposed to combat. So much for the free market.

But, having the government meddle in the affair of businesses is socialist and communist, that's bad, mkay? This is 'Murca we are talking about here, home of capitalism and the free market! *runs off shooting guns in the air*

 

[Neverhoodian]

Can someone explain how this isn't illegal? Surely this is the exact bullshit that anti-monopoly laws are supposed to combat. So much for the free market.

Because my country's government was bought out by corporate special interests long ago, to the point where the two are practically one in the same.

Spoiler

...With liberty and justice for sale.

 

[Ambitiousmould]

Wow. And I've spent all this time thinking Beardy Branson was a wanker. I mean he is, and is a wanker in more industries, but at least he isn't actively preventing advancements in infrastructure.

 

[LTD]

I live in Memphis and people are getting shot on the interstate, what a fun state we live in.

The rest of the state pretends Memphis doesn't exist. "Pay no attention to the cesspool in the southwest corner... we don't know who they are."

 

[MiskWisk]

I 'unno 'bout the rest of you, but I love me some good ol' fashioned monopolies. And I especially like getting rammed up the rear by the wonderful incarnation of sunshine and leprechaun orgies at the end of rainbows, also known as our dear Comcast. Also, I live in Tennessee - land of the sunburned elbows sticking out of pickup truck windows, tween cashiers that cannot make change for 5 dollars without a computer, and Asian markets that will get you shot if you walk within 100 yards of their locations.

So this is definitely a win-win-win for me.

Now, now, let's not use the "M" word here. There's no need for such crass language. This is an oligopoly and it's perfectly legal. After all, what's wrong with companies working together to control the market by stifling new growth and raising barriers to entry for start-ups. [/sarcasm]

And this is what's wrong with corporatism friends. Just two steps to the right of capitalism and things start going to the shitter.

 

[Coach Morrison]

Damn America, you have no freeeeeeedom!

Well I can at least walk around my neighborhood pointing a loaded gun in the air. Comcast can't take that away from me.

 

[Tanis]

THANK YOU, GOP!
THANK YOU, SCALIA!
Thank you, spineless American people.

I think it's time for a vote of no confidence.
I think it's time to bring these politicians to their knees.

 

[Roccondil]

Can someone explain how this isn't illegal? Surely this is the exact bullshit that anti-monopoly laws are supposed to combat. So much for the free market.

But, having the government meddle in the affair of businesses is socialist and communist, that's bad, mkay? This is 'Murca we are talking about here, home of capitalism and the free market! *runs off shooting guns in the air*

This is exactly the result of government interference in the affair of businesses. If there was already no law restricting the spread of the networks then Rep. Kevin Brooks' legislation would have been unnecessary. As it is Comcast and AT&T used the law to keep their stranglehold on the area. Government hasn't limited the monopoly's power, the government has encouraged and protected the monopoly.

 

[TheMysteriousGX]

Hey, now, it's not a monopoly.

It's a Cartel system. Totally different thing. Still illegal, but on the other hand, there's no law saying Comcast and Time-Warner and the other big companies have to try to compete in the same areas either.

And entirely coincidently, they offer similar services at a similar price point without making too many waves in each other's territory while simultaneously trying to throw as many legal hurdles at smaller upstarts that also don't hurt the big players. Completely coincidently.

 

[Czann]

Time to stop calling these SOBs lobbyists and start calling them for what they are: corrupters.