Voters Quiet the Drums At the Polls in Colorado

[RV_]

Folks across the country are rallying and not only cutting the cable but competing with their own Internet systems. The results are all good and getting better.

 

The first step is to find what state legislation has been passed in each state. That is finally starting to happen. The result will be faster and more bandwidth nationwide because of competition. This also affects RVRs directly as campgrounds gain more bandwidth for the same price or less with competition. You wouldn't want the three top oil companies, Shell, Exxon, Mobile, to each decide which cities each would have as a monopoly, and then, for example, like Bossier City here has Suddenlink, and across the river Shreveport has Time Warner, we could have only Exxon stations available in Bossier, and only Shell stations allowed in Shreveport. But since you can carry your tank you could not use the fuel from across the river or competition would be happening, That is the state of cable and fiber broadband in this country today.

Excerpt:

 

"The "constant drumbeat" of complaints about poor connectivity pounding from Colorado communities ended with a climactic crash at the polls on Tuesday. Referenda in 44 communities* - 27 cities and towns; 17 counties - all passed overwhelmingly to reclaim local telecommunications authority.

 

Staggering Approval

The landslide victory was no surprise. Last year, nine communities asked voters the same issue of whether or not they wanted the ability to make local telecommunications decisions. That right was taken away 10 years ago by SB 152. Two other communities took up the question earlier this year with 75 percent and 92 percent of voters supporting local telecommunications authority.

 

A few larger communities, such as Boulder, Montrose, and Centennial, presented the issue to the voters and reclaimed local authority in prior years. This year, most of the voting took place in smaller, rural communities where incumbents have little incentive to invest in network upgrades.

 

This year, results were similar as the majority of voters supported local measures with over 70 percent of ballots cast. In Durango, over 90 percent of voters chose to opt out of restrictive SB 152; Telluride voters affirmed their commitment to local authority when over 93 percent of votes supported measure 2B. Many communities showed support in the mid- and upper- 80th percentile.

 

Schools Win, Too

In addition to economic development, Colorado communities are looking to the future by planning for students and tomorrow's workforce. Ballot questions in a number locations asked voters to allow school districts to have the option of investing in telecommunications if necessary. They don't have faith that incumbents will keep up with their growing needs.

 

Colorado Mountain College, also unsure of the future, asked voters in six different communities for permission to provide their own Internet, if necessary. Voters in all locations said "yes."

 

Much more in the article here: http://muninetworks.org/content/voters-quiet-drums-polls-colorado