According to a brand new report released today and authored by IPI senior fellow Barry M. Aarons, municipal broadband has been plagued by failure nearly every time it has been attempted, and at great cost to taxpayers.

When municipal broadband networks fail, it is the taxpayers who must pay for the loss. And municipal broadband systems have been expensive government failures in cities including, but not limited to, Philadelphia, Chicago, Portland and Orlando.

"When the marketplace drives the investment, the results are far superior to any instance when government tries to force a market," said Aarons.

said by TKJunkMail :

And if the public broadband venture fails and is unable to payoff the bonds that are used to build out the system, then the taxpayers are left on the hook.

said by major marco :

What's the difference? The taxpayers you're so worried about are already on the hook for about $700B and counting in bullshit bank bailouts.

said by TKJunkMail :

The reason for support of a law like this is that TWC and other private ISPs don't want to see public companies with taxpayer subsidized lower prices that don't reflect the real underlying costs.

That is a distortion of the free enterprise system and tries to hide TRUE costs inside of public budgets that encompass many different services(cross subsidization). In effect, public officials create a very large slush fund where they can hide their politically appointed cronies and where finding where that money came from is difficult, if not impossible.

And if the public broadband venture fails and is unable to payoff the bonds that are used to build out the system, then the taxpayers are left on the hook.

»www.bizjournals.com/dallas/prnew···/DC80943
Doc on the failures and the costs to taxpayers:
»www.ipi.org/IPI%5CIPIPublication···nElement

said by ztmike :

Blah blah..seriously that's all I read from you just now. Aren't you a stock exchange trader for cable isps? What does your argument have ANYTHING to do with what Time Warner is doing lately? NOTHING, that's what.

said by Matt :

Those cited muni-broadband failures were WiFi failures Tk. Almost every "cable in the ground" muni deployment has so far been a resounding success -- even with the lawsuits thrown at them.

said by TKJunkMail :

I seem to remember a few failures out in Utah. Provo & vicinity.

said by Matt :

You mean iProvo. That was ONE failure that anti-muni's keep holding up as the shining example of failure. Can you name another?

said by woody7 :

you understand that you might as well shoot yourself in the head than try to have a realistic conversation with TJ..

said by TKJunkMail :

That is a distortion of the free enterprise system and tries to hide TRUE costs inside of public budgets that encompass many different services(cross subsidization).

said by amigo_boy :

If we're concerned about distorting "TRUE" costs, we should require ISPs to negotiate rights of way and easements with each property owner along the way. Not take advantage of society's planning for such market activities in advance, and greasing the skids for it.

Mark

said by Skippy25 :

Since you keep spouting this off provide a link that shows they are guaranteed by tax payer money.

Bonds can go to 0 and be worthless just like any other investment unless they are specifically guaranteed.