WHOM DO YOU TRUST?
In Dubuque, as well as 25 other communities around IOWA, there will be
a referendum on the election ballot this coming Tuesday, November
8th. One of these referenda in particular deals with whether or
not a city should create its own government-owned communications
utility to compete with private providers.
City support for the referendum is particularly curious in Dubuque,
where the City recently negotiated an unprecedented 15-year franchise
agreement with Mediacom. Some of the items include:
A $300,000 annual updating investment fund to guarantee ongoing
financial investment to keep Mediacom's fiber network at the leading
edge of broadband technology.
Expanding the network capability from 750 MHz to an 860 MHz system that
will support the needs of future business and residential services.
Connecting more than 75 sites with an upgraded I-Net which is a
private, city-managed network. This will provide all government
offices in Dubuque (police, fire, city hall, county offices, all
schools, and private institutions designated to assist in emergency
situations) with an integrated communication system.
Because of these and other insightful franchise items, Dubuque's
residents and businesses will benefit from this commitment and more
without RISKING ONE RED CENT OF THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY.
But all of this is in jeopardy unless the citizens of Dubuque VOTE NO on Tuesday, November 8th regarding the referendum.
First of all, it could take up to $80,000,000 (that's right, Million)
or more to build a fiber network to compete with the private
sector. This information is based on the city's own feasibility
study.
Secondly, do the citizens of Dubuque feel IT IS A RISK putting an
$80,000,000 decision in the hands of the 5 APPOINTED individuals on the
local utilities board?
Thirdly, why should the taxpaying voters of Dubuque support such a
RISKY VENTURE when there is already a well-working system in place that
includes competition?
And fourth, what does the City Council of Dubuque plan on doing with
the $7,000,000 (yes that's 7 Million) in franchise fees they have
already collected from Mediacom? I know at least one city
employee who thinks they should use some of it to pay for city workers'
benefits, not cut them like is proposed. And that is exactly the
type of place the money can be used.
Of utmost importance on the Dubuque ballot is the WORDING OF THE
REFERENDUM. It leaves no opportunity for a follow-up referendum that
would give the public a voice on how much tax they will be assessed.
The Opportunity Dubuque organization says that the election is about
“protecting our rights”, but the ballot language is so poorly written
that some feel it actually takes rights away.
The Mediacom employees in Dubuque give not only their expertise on the
job, but also tremendous time and money to the surrounding communities
in which they live.
Even the Des Moines Register's editorial board in their November 4th
edition says “…the better vote is no…In general, government has no
business competing with business. It should only step in when
business fails to deliver goods or services. Private-sector
providers, led by Mediacom Communications, say they've invested
millions to upgrade broadband networks to better serve IOWANS and are
prepared to invest millions more…”
Other cities with the utility/telecommunications question on the ballot are:
Ackley, Altoona, Anamosa, Asbury, Carlisle, Charles City, Clarinda,
Cresco, Glenwood, Hampton, Hiawatha, Hudson, Iowa Falls, Lansing,
Manchester, Maquoketa, Marion, Mason City, Norwalk, Parkersburg,
Vinton, Waterloo, Waukon, West Union, and Windsor Heights.
So, let's keep things as they are. We employees of Mediacom do
not want to loose our jobs, but we also feel people should not be
unduly taxed.
Molly Regan is an employee of Mediacom.
Blog For Iowa 
“. . . government owned communications utility” I think is a phrase used to describe community owned wireless access.
“. . . to compete with private providers” As I understand this phrase, I have to ask myself, what is being offered, today, by private providers? As far as I can tell, there's a duopoly, a telecom company and a cable company, and that's it. Is there more? The telecom company monopolizes access to land line infrastructure, and the cable company monopolizes access to the broadcast infrastructure. Taxpayers now make sure the city provides $300,000 to Mediacom to update their infrastructure. Taxpayers now accept embarrassingly low upload and download capability of their city's internet communications network, which is the same system New Orleans had wiped out by the hurricane, and it still is not back up and running. I have to wonder what else the cable company thinks is “insightful”.
I'll leave this discussion with the following thought: What risk is being raised? What competition is mentioned? Why would the cable company think $300,000 a year for improvements is all that is necessary, yet scream MILLIONS, if someone suggests the services are unsatisfactory, not to mention the obscene access rates taxpayers have to pay the duopoly that controls Dubuque?
LikeLike