Colorado Voters Strike Down Comcast's Awful State Law So for more than a decade we've noted how more than 20 states have passed laws, quite literally written by giant ISP lobbyists, preventing towns and cities from building their own broadband networks. In many instances these laws even ban towns and cities from striking public private partnerships with companies like Ting or Google Fiber, often the only way many of these areas are able to get better, cheaper, and faster broadband. Buying said laws is often cheaper for ISPs than actually trying to improve service so cities won't head down this road.

While Centurylink and Comcast convinced Colorado lawmakers to pass one such law (SB 152) back in 2005, the law contained a provision letting individual towns and cities ignore the law if they vote in a referendum. And time and time again, local Colorado residents tired of substandard broadband have voted overwhelmingly in favor of ignoring the Comcast-bought SB 152. This week, Fort Collins voters were allowed to vote whether they'd like to ignore the law too. And while the vote only opens the door to having a conversation about the city building its own broadband network, Comcast and Centurylink broke local political spending records in an attempt to scuttle it. Said effort involved running a series of misleading ads claiming that locals would see fewer road repairs and less affordable housing if they voted yes. Again, all the vote did was begin the process of talking about building such a network, removing restrictions quite-literally imposed by Comcast executives 1700 miles away. And according to the Coloradoan, the majority of locals voted in favor of doing just that. The measure passed with 57.15 percent of voters voting in favor. "I was very encouraged with the passage today, and particularly with the headwinds of incumbents trying to misinform the electorate," Fort Collins Mayor Wade Troxell said of CenturyLink and Comcast's behavior ahead of the vote. "And also, I was very disappointed in the (Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce) playing an active role in misinformation. I think there is some accountability that has to come out post-election." Again, if Comcast doesn't want towns and cities getting into the broadband business, there's a very simple solution: offer better, cheaper and faster service. Towns and cities aren't getting into the broadband business because it's fun, they're doing so because they're at their wits end with Again, if Comcast doesn't want towns and cities getting into the broadband business, there's a very simple solution: offer better, cheaper and faster service. Towns and cities aren't getting into the broadband business, they're doing so because they're at their wits end with hidden fees , unnecessary usage caps and overage fees , and what's technically the worst customer service in any industry in America.







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Most recommended from 37 comments

bikerglen

join:2017-10-27

Fort Collins, CO 18 recommendations bikerglen Member Corrections Fort Collins opted out of SB-152 in November 2015. Yesterday's vote authorizes the city council to amend the city charter to offer telecommunication services and borrow the money. This was the big vote to get the network started. That's why $451k was spent against the measure here. Ostracus

join:2011-09-05

Henderson, KY 12 recommendations Ostracus Member Us vs Them. Twenty states competing against thirty that don't have such laws. Guess who's going to come out ahead? Talking about shooting oneself in the foot.

tshirt

Premium Member

join:2004-07-11

Snohomish, WA 10 recommendations tshirt Premium Member see... ...Paying attention and VOTING works, you just have to do so reliable and consistently.

Pisgah Rider

join:2004-04-08

Inman, SC 10 recommendations Pisgah Rider Member My question is.... who are the 43% & what were they thinking?