Another Bad Bill: Iowa Communities May Be Prevented From Providing Residents High-Speed Internet Access
Radio Iowa
by O.Kay Henderson
Up to 45 communities across the state may
hold referendums in November to explore the idea of a municipal utility
that would provide residents with broadband service.
An “Opportunity Iowa” spokesman says the goal is to install the kind of
high-speed internet access available in places like Japan and Ireland
that's light years ahead of what's available from most cable systems or
phone companies here.
Former Governor Terry Branstad and the
Cedar Rapids businessman who founded MCI are among those touting the
“Opportunity Iowa” project.
Gerald Bair, the recently-retired
director of the Iowa Department of Revenue, will serve with former State
Auditor Richard Johnson as co-chair of the “Project Taxpayer
Protection” group that's asking legislators to put limits on
“Opportunity Iowa.”
(Click here to read the entire story)
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A Message from OpportunityIowa. . .
We must remain firm in our OPPOSITION TO ANY NEW LEGISLATION!
House
Study Bill 182 and Senate Study Bill 1136 are the pieces of legislation
we have been following very closely. These bills are being represented
as “taxpayer protection bills.” Unfortunately, any “protection”
stemming from these pieces of legislation would come in the form of
totally eliminating the alternative of a communications utility! That
would be a very important choice Iowans would lose.
OpportunityIowa
has been tracking the arguments Opposition Iowa has made in support of
their bill to “protect and inform taxpayers” and we have created an
OpportunityIowa response to each argument so you can better understand
the issues.
These
bills were designed by “Opposition Iowa” to eliminate the possibility
of the formation or operation of municipal communications utilities in
Iowa. They have been introduced to ensure that the current monopolies
continue to enjoy exclusive rights to provide telecommunications
services in Iowa communities, even if such services are deemed
insufficient, cost prohibitive or unreliable by citizens.
NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT!
Iowa can not afford ANY piece of these bills to be passed into law. Contact your Iowa legislators and tell them NO NEW LEGISLATION!
To find out more about this issue and how you can help, click here: Opportunity Iowa
Cities organizing a referendum in 2005
Existing city-owned comunications utilities
Help stop media bias in Iowa. Click here to receive action alerts from Rapid Response – Iowa
Blog For Iowa 
This legislation is terrible! If you need further information visit http://www.stickybuffalo.com for more analysis and tactics to help fight for real competition among providers in rural Iowa.
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