 
FiberNow
@cox.net | Hoping the citizens do the right thing... Lafayette has a tremendous chance to set an example that will hopefully lead to other cities doing the same, and bring in business locally. I will be voting YES, and I hope many others follow suit. | |
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teach
Premium
join:2000-09-21
Denver, CO | Re: Hoping the citizens do the right thing... I sure hope they make it. | |
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ezric
join:2003-05-29
Minden, LA | Re: Hoping the citizens do the right thing... Me personally, I am against such a thing. I don't believe the government needs any more control than they already have. For a government that regulates such businesses and then to compete in the business is conflicting. | |
| | | | Eric Martin
join:2005-06-19
66308
| Re: Hoping the citizens do the right thing... So under a presidency of you we wouldn't have municipal power plants, rural electrification, roads, water , military since they would compete with private sercurity guards.
I see. We should let a few corporations who have the funds for big projects to own them and charge the living hell out of us and prevent any new progress .
The good ole monopoly Bell days. | |
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ezric
join:2003-05-29
Minden, LA
| Re: Hoping the citizens do the right thing... said by Eric Martin  :So under a presidency of you we wouldn't have municipal power plants, rural electrification, roads, water , military since they would compete with private sercurity guards. I see. We should let a few corporations who have the funds for big projects to own them and charge the living hell out of us and prevent any new progress . The good ole monopoly Bell days. On all of the above utilities, they are monopolies in the their own right and as such there is not any competition.
In this case you have two companies competing for business, and on the verge of spending billions to upgrade their networks. They are both migrating toward ip-everything.
A project like this undermines both. So instead of competion between two, you would rather have a muni monopoly.
All I was saying is I believe in the long run it is not beneficial to the consumer.
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"Most people would rather be certain they're miserable, than risk being happy." -Robert Anthony | |
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teach
Premium
join:2000-09-21
Denver, CO
| mmm, I think you may need to read a little more on the issue but the main or big picture is the city would lease not run it. the city is trying to end the digital divide.
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The fascination of shooting as a sport depends almost wholly on whether you are at the right or wrong end of the gun.P. G. Wodehouse | |
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FiberNow
@cox.net
| Re: Hoping the citizens do the right thing... That is incorrect. The city would both build out the network and provide the services. The city has begged Bellsouth and Cox for a public / private partnership, and niether one has offered any package that has been even worth mentioning. Thus, the city has decided that they will provide the services, as well as the fiber. | |
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teach
Premium
join:2000-09-21
Denver, CO
1 edit | Re: Hoping the citizens do the right thing... who was incorrect? | |
| | MonkeyPox4
join:2004-12-21
Lafayette, LA | As do I. Getting up early to go vote. If for no other reason to vote for this initiative, stick it to BellSouth for their nonsense-spreading & FUD. I find their behavior offensive. | |
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nelsong
join:2001-11-03
Lafayette, LA | I for one have already voted yes. I am currently on a business trip up in Virginia, but made sure that I absentee voted yes before I left. | |
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FiberNow
@cox.net | Re: im sorry The local municipal utility will acquire revenue bonds for the project that can be paid back over a 25 year time period. | |
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brooklynman4
join:2004-09-07
Brooklyn, NY | Re: im sorry They wont get unless verizon gets a big fat pay check from the community lol | |
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FiberNow
@cox.net | Re: im sorry Verizon is not an incumbent here. The main 2 companies providing telecom services are Bellsouth and Cox. | |
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BigCreek
God Is Good.
Premium
join:2002-06-25
Heber Springs, AR
| Too bad it has to come to this ... I am against this sort of thing as it is a correct principle that government should be involved in as few things as possible.
But in this case I hope it passes if only for the wake up call it could represent to the entrenched monopolies that have consistently shown themselves unwilling to serve their own customers.
Sad we've come to this. But kudos to Lafayette for being willing to fight.
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SBC Pro Static DSL; Linux. Terrific wife & kids; live on a farm by Big Creek. Software & network consultant. | |
| mishaq
Premium
join:2004-01-24
Richardson, TX
clubs: | Sad That's terrible. The town should employ the 1,300, train most for the fiber ISP's technical support, and train the rest as technicians.
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Damn you FCC! | |
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Octopussy2
Premium
join:2003-03-30
Batavia, IL
| Re: Sad BONNE CHANCE Lafayette!!!! The Tri-Cities are rooting for you from the North. After your fabulous Fiber Film Festival and Fiber Music Venues with Huval playing the sax, I'd say you guys pretty much have this locked up IF you get out the vote. A JULY referendum on a Saturday is pretty interesting and unusual, so getting out the vote is important. BUT, you guys have a list of supporters a mile long, including the Republican and Democratic parties, Realtors, Home Builders Assoc., the Chamber of Commerce, and the list goes on and on and on.....
Here's to you Lafayette! Go get 'em!
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It's muni-licious! »www.tricitybroadband.com | |
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FiberNow
@cox.net | Re: Sad We're doing our very best to spread the word to vote. The anti-fiber movement has picked up a little steam by telling out right lies about the project and spreading FUD. Hopefully, we will overcome that. | |
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Octopussy2
Premium
join:2003-03-30
Batavia, IL
| Re: Sad That was bound to happen and was to be expected(FUD). The incumbents are vicious in these types of battles and will stop at nothing to protect their profits and market share. They also have deep pockets to spread their disinformation, unfortunately.
If people just stop and think for a moment about why these two companies are fighting so hard to stop a competitior before it is even built, and realize what an asset they will have in a "hometime utility" with local customer service and local accountability, there is really no other way your residents can vote but YES!!!
Remember, municipal broadband is also about economic development for a community and marketing your community as a better place to live who will attract businesses to town that bring new jobs to town. Not to mention the benefits fiber will bring to Lafayette and it's digital divide issues.
Your grass roots leaders and leaders from the community have done a fine with the campaign FOR fiber. I have an idea, come Sunday morning, the residents of Lafayette will wake up victorious.
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It's muni-licious! »www.tricitybroadband.com | |
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Need some Fiber
@lusnet.net
| Bell/Cox Why would bell/cox upgrade their equipment when they are currently making a fortune off crappy rates and services?
They are against this proposal because it does not fit THEIR idea of what Lafayette should have? To be honest, I would not mind if bell/cox pull out of Lafayette. At least our money would not be going into out-of-state pockets that have no concern about about the needs of this community.
Hell, when do you see the Republican and Democratic party coming together over anything? | |
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FTTH WINS
@cox.net
| Re: Bell/Cox According to the Louisiana Secretary of State website, here are the results!
City of Lafayette, $125,000,000 Bond-City/Parish Council-25 Yrs
88 of 88 precincts reporting
Click here for Results by Precinct
12,481 62% YES -
7,621 38% NO | |
| ThornyRose
join:2005-07-18
Scott, LA
| Insider's Perspective...Hubby Works @ Call Center The article is very correct in the fact that Mr. Oliver spent the day in the call center, encouraging every person there to vote against FTTH. My husband, who is one of the 1,300 employees there, came home with so much propagandized mess spewing from his mouth that I, quite unabashedly, giggled in his face and asked him how brainwashing felt. Instead of relying on an obviously biased opinion, I relied on my own research to reach an informed "YES" vote.
For those who don't know the conditions here in Lafayette, I will be more than happy to enlighten you. Cox has a waiting list of over a month to get beginning service, or repairs to damaged lines. BellSouth, that maven of telecom, regularly leaves phone lines in need of repairs for over a week or more. There's no apology for the wait, no sense of urgency. As far as phone lines go, imagine that you are a mother with ill children, and you're told that your land line will be fixed, at the soonest, in seven WORKING days. It's depressing, to say the least. I've got a cell phone to fall back on, but imagine those who do not. Customer service is an absolute joke. "Ma'am, there's nothing we can do." is a phrase I've heard from both of those jokers often.
Yes, folks, we PAY to be treated like we're barely worth acknowledgment. But you can bet your sweet buns that either of these fine corporations will sic one of their 'reminder callers' on any person who doesn't pay their bill on time, though. It's natural to assume we're worthless...unless we're late sending the check.
I've often wondered why these huge corporations don't have enough people in this area to decently service their customers. Is it because it costs too much to actually have enough people on hand? Is it because they experienced a growth spurt in subscribing households?
Of course not. It's cheaper to hire three CSR's part-time (IE, no insurances or perks to pay) to make excuses to irate subscribers than it is to keep one technician hired full-time. Once again, economic sense overrides taking care of the customer.
FTTH has passed, and I've never been more jubilant. LUS has done a fantastic job with electricity and water, and I really can't wait to be first in line for fiber. I just can't contain my glee in telling BellSouth and Cox to shove it where the sun doesn't shine.
As for my husband losing his job...There are other jobs out there. And personally, if his job hinges on the whims of a crackpot like Oliver and his henchmen, then I'm glad my hubby will be somewhere else. Besides, the call center has major problems keeping management right now, they're leaving like rats off a sinking ship, and middle- to upper-management decisions are very much like a Dilbert strip on crack. Makes me wonder when the water's going to swamp the deck & sink the whole darned thing. | |
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Lafayette Votes On Fiber This Weekend
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