NY: The NYS Telecommunications Reform Act is the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

Posted on May 4, 2007 - 6:48am.

Note: follow the discussion thread at the source link

from: The Albany Project

The NYS Telecommunications Reform Act is the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread...

Thu May 03, 2007 at 13:32:15 PM EDT

(I'll be the first to admit that I'm not terribly literate in telecom issues, but I've been talking lately to folks who certainly are. Topic #1 these days is Assemblyman Brodsky's Telecommunications bill. It has been described to me by more than one person as the "gold standard" in state telecom legislation. Oddly, very few people seem to be paying much attention to it, including the Governor. I asked Pete to post about the bill so we can all learn about it and to start a conversation about what exactly makes it worthy of our support. Thanks to Pete for posting this. - promoted by lipris)

...And the State Legislature should pass it with the Governor's support.

Here's why: the economy, education, civic participation, medical care, emergency services... more and more, it's all about high speed internet service.

If some can get that service - and others can't - then society will have built another wall to divide us from one another.

The FCC requires universal service for basic telephone service - and there is lifeline telephone service for poor people. The power company gets you juice everywhere. But the development of high speed internet is being left to the tender mercies of the "free" market.

The U.S. is already way behind other advanced nations - and we're dropping fast. NYS needs a comprehensive telecom policy that is pro-consumer and pro-worker. That's exactly what Assemblymember Brodsky and Senator Leibell have introduced in A.3980B/S.5124.

Pete Sikora :: The NYS Telecommunications Reform Act is the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread...

I work for District 1 of the Communications Workers of America (CWA). At CWA, we're very big fans of A.3980B/S.5124. Other groups that are endorsing the bill include NYS Rural Advocates, ACORN, Consumers Union, NYPIRG, Common Cause, Citizen Action, Rural Opportunities Inc, Jobs with Justice and the New York State Alliance for Retired Americans.

The Assembly bill (A.3980B) has 50 co-sponsors joining its prime sponsor, Richard Brodsky. The Senate bill (S.5124), which was just introduced, has only the prime sponsor, Senator Vincent Leibell. The Governor does not have a stated position on the bill, although he favors the development of universal broadband throughout the state.

On the opposite side: the cable companies and Verizon.

These days, America is more unequal by wealth than at any time since the Gilded Age - right before the Great Depression hit. Let's not make access to information through the internet another way we're divided.

It's time for a little rallying to make this bill a law... what do people think?

PS I didn't want this post to be all about what's in the bill, 'cause the jargon can fly - I'm happy to explain in comments if people want. As a telecom nerd tho, I can't help myself: the bill has a statewide video franchise with an 85% build-out, enhancements for public access TV channels and it locks in the most $ possible for municipalities while leaving them in control of their rights-of-way. It also has a broadband development authority and statewide broadband mapping, and helps protect landline service for the millions who will rely on copper for years to come. Plus other good stuff.

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