Chapel Hill Technology Advisory Committee

[Terri Buckner <tbuckner AT ibiblio.org>]

Following is quoted from a Common Cause email.

SB 245, sponsored by Senator Brandt Harshman, would prohibit cities and 
towns from developing community broadband networks.  Common 
Cause/Indiana opposes this bill because we believe community broadband 
networks are an efficient, affordable way to connect people to the 
Internet, regardless of their income level or geographic location.

Broadband access is essential to economic growth, health care and 
education.  What electric power and telephones were to the 20th Century, 
broadband will be to the 21st.  Municipalities have a valuable role to 
play in ensuring that all communities in Indiana have access to this 
important tool.  Passage of SB 245 would mean that only the 
telecommunication giants can provide broadband service.  This 
legislation is anti-competitive and will not allow local governments to 
serve the needs of their citizens.

You can help us defeat this bad bill.  Please attend the hearing on 
Tuesday, January 12 and contact your State Senator to let him or her 
know that big business should not control community Internet access.