H1252 from 2009 is in a study committee right now. The Senate bill has been gutted.
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Save NC Broadband.com 
I will NOT vote for anyone that supports this bill, I will petion everyone I know to not support or vote for anyone that supports this bill!!!!!
I would like to know who to get my word out to for support of your movement and to voice my opposition to these bills. I’m currently in Raleigh, NC.
This bill is a prime example of the problems with too much government regulation. The United States is great because of the relative economic freedom that we have. When government steps in to make rules that eliminate competition, this stifles innovation and puts the citizens in a position to be taken advantage of by large companies with the resources to corrupt our political leaders through lobbying.
Is there anything people from out of state can do to voice their support on this matter?
Even though I don’t live in your state I felt compelled to e-mail each of the Representatives above and express my outrage at this blatant attempt to surpress the will of the people and free market principals.
Good luck!
Same here.
Time Warner keeps trying to pass legislation that kills broadband progress. We are already behind most developed nations.
I’m posting contact information shortly for the Representatives in the next committee. Thanks for your support, folks. The response is overwhelming.
Could you please make a response available that we could add to and it would be sent to our NC Lawmakers? That would greatly facilitate getting the word out that this bill is wrong. We are supposed to be encouraging grass roots thinking of better ways to do things. This is a better way!
Lloyd Stone
Wake Forest, NC 27587
I’m wondering why I don’t see anyone representing my area (Buncombe county) of NC. I would have a long conversation with them about H.B. 1252
Found him. Bruce Goforth, time for a chat
I now live in Washington State but recently lived in NC for 4 years. This legislation is appalling. One of the reasons I moved out of NC is because of the stifling economic situation for anyone not in a major city. This is in large part due to the lack of business opportunities and internet access. So Wilson NC solves BOTH problems at once and some how the State Gov. thinks this is a bad thing?
If this bill passes you can thank good old fashioned Corruption and Bribery, otherwise known as lobbying.
Good luck you guys, god-speed. . . Phoenix is in your corner.
I just made calls to 9 or 10 reps on the list and left detailed voicemails in opposition to this bill, including the chair, all the vice chairs, and two of the sponsors. I suggest everyone else do the same. Keep it polite but state your case forcefully.
What we need is a level playing field and more competition, not less. While I don’t agree with government takeovers of any private sector business, I don’t think that’s the case here. Unless there is some legitimate issue related to this bill that involves a government entity acting to create a new monopoly, what we need is the exact opposite of this bill.
Time Warner already acts as a monopoly in most of their market area, and they wield that monopoly power to the detriment of their customers and the public at large. With true competition the cost of cable TV and broadband internet would be 30 to 60% lower than what it is now, and the level of service and choice would be greater.
hey, where can i make a phone call and tell them its its plain monopoly?
trying to put in my help ;<
The committee’s contact information, including phone numbers, is at the top of this page. Thanks!
[…] you live in NC, write your State Representatives and tell them you want them to look out for you, not big […]
Hi everyone,
Brian, setting up this blog was a great idea. I have written to the representatives, plus my local representative and senator. Here is what I wrote to them:
I am writing to you to express my strong opposition to NC Senate Bill 1004 and NC House Bill 1252. I understand that the City of Wilson created their broadband after a request was made to Time Warner for faster service, and that request was denied. Wilson was attempting to provide a valuable service, a utility, to its constituents, that they otherwise couldn’t get. This makes a lot of sense. And it may be the right option for other cities and towns in North Carolina. Blocking a municipality’s right to serve its customers is really the issue at hand. To call this bill “leveling the playing field” is laughable. Obviously, Time Warner and Embarq don’t want to deal with competition of any kind, as it would cut into their profit margins, especially this kind of competition. But that’s what capitalism is all about. Asking a government body to regulate competition out of the market is asking for a monopoly. (Or in this case to extend the monoploy they already have.)
It’s just plain wrong for North Carolina to stop its cities and towns from providing services to their constituents. A vote for this bill is a vote to put the interests of big business above the best interests of the citizens of North Carolina. I will not be voting for representatives and senators who care more about business than they do about me.
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Also, here is the list from above, consolidated, so people can just cut/paste into their email:
Lorene.Coates@ncleg.net, Harold.Brubaker@ncleg.net, Nelson.Cole@ncleg.net, Bill.Faison@ncleg.net, Russell.Tucker@ncleg.net, Kelly.Alexander@ncleg.net, Hugh.Blackwell@ncleg.net, Angela.Bryant@ncleg.net, Becky.Carney@ncleg.net, Beverly.Earle@ncleg.net, Bruce.Goforth@ncleg.net, Robert.Grady@ncleg.net, Jim.Gulley@ncleg.net, Pricey.Harrison@ncleg.net, Hugh.Holliman@ncleg.net, Julia.Howard@ncleg.net, Linda.Johnson2@ncleg.net, Marvin.Lucas@ncleg.net, Danny.McComas@ncleg.net, Tim.Moore@ncleg.net, Wil.Neumann@ncleg.net, Ty.Harrell@ncleg.net, Earl.Jones@ncleg.net, Marilyn.Avila@ncleg.net, Thom.Tillis@ncleg.net
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and, you can find your representatives/senators here: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/homePage.pl just click on house/senate from the menu bar across the top.
Just some things to keep in mind when the committee discusses this:
Rep. COATES, LORENE T, (D) Chairwoman of the Public Utilities Committee – $3,500 in political contributions from Telecom Services & Equipment industry in 2008
Rep. BRUBAKER, HAROLD J, (R) Vice Chairman – $15,000 (I think they like this guy)
Rep. FAISON, BILL, (D) Vice Chairman – $750 (not so much this guy)
Rep. COLE, NELSON, (D) Vice Chairman – $4,500
Rep. TUCKER, RUSSELL E, (D) Vice Chairman – $2,500
http://www.followthemoney.org/database/state_overview.phtml?s=NC&y=2008
I would suggest everyone just copy/paste the post by Lumineux along with the email list and send it to them. I am doing this for all 5 email accounts I have 🙂 And I’m also forwarding it to all my friends/family in NC
Another fast method of getting your reps’ emails:
http://www.votesmart.org/index.htm
Enter your zip in the box at the top left, and it’ll give you a full listing.
Am doing this from my north carolina university account, and forwarding this information to classmates.
This is exactly the sort of important issue that should be posted to student lists, for all those readers currently in college / grad school! A large group of people who care about these issues (but probably haven’t heard about it yet), all of whom have *verifiably unique and local emails* from which to write. Spread the word!
Also, try calling your local news station. The telcos are spending real money to fight this, using push polls, visiting town hall meetings — we need to get publicity to counter their moves!)
(Quote)
While I don’t agree with government takeovers of any private sector business, I don’t think that’s the case here. Unless there is some legitimate issue related to this bill that involves a government entity acting to create a new monopoly, what we need is the exact opposite of this bill.
Time Warner already acts as a monopoly in most of their market area, and they wield that monopoly power to the detriment of their customers and the public at large. With true competition the cost of cable TV and broadband internet would be 30 to 60% lower than what it is now, and the level of service and choice would be greater.
(end quote)
Well said.
Asa former employee of TW here in Charlotte, I can assert personally that the assumptions made on here that integrity is NOT their watchword. They are plainly and simply opportunists who are not above doing anything they can get away with to increase their bottom line.
Here’s a thought: Check out your portfolios and, if you find your retirement account is vested in them, di something about it. There are lots of companies which try to do the right thing. If more people would put their money where their mouth is, citizens would be able to increase their “clout” measurably!
I don’t live in the area or state, but I really hope this technology and practice gets adopted in other states. Cheaper internet would do a lot for many people.