As You See It: Should Governments Operate Internet Access?
Cities across the country have adopted plans to provide their citizens with high-speed Internet access with 52 municipal broadband systems operating as of 2007.
Now some states are attempting similar initiatives, proposing broadband delivery to everyone in their jurisdictions who want it, a report published by The Heartland Institute shows.
The 52 municipal systems in operation have cost taxpayers a combined $840 million, the report said. Cities such as Philadelphia and Provo, Utah, expecting low costs and a reliable revenue stream, have found themselves experiencing ever-increasing costs and limited demand.
Proponents of municipal and state broadband initiatives claim high-speed Internet is a public good, vital to continued economic growth.
Opponents contend evidence shows economies can grow alongside Internet access and, more importantly, the private sector provides the product far more efficiently, less expensively and with better quality service than government can.
Do you think cities and states should operate broadband systems, or is this a service that should be left exclusively to the private sector?
Reader comments on this topic are invited for use in the Monday, Aug. 4, Tyler Morning Telegraph. Contributors are asked to limit responses to 350 words and those should be received at the newspaper office by Thursday, July 31, to allow time for processing.
Send to: As You See It, Tyler Morning Telegraph, P.O. Box 2030, Tyler, 75710. E-mail: opinion@tylerpaper.com.
FAQ
Search Forums
Log in
Register
