Posted on 12/11/2001 11:59:04 AM PST by farmfriend
Grange Supports High Speed Internet Access for Rural America
(Washington, DC) December 3, 2001--One hundred years ago this year, the Grange was instrumental in winning Rural Free Delivery Mail service. That legislation opened vast new opportunities for communication and commerce for millions of Americans living on our nation’s farms and in rural communities. Today, the Grange wants to celebrate that victory by supporting HR 1542, the Internet Freedom and Development Act of 2001, legislation that will help bring high speed Internet access to rural America.
“The Grange believes that rural Americans deserve access to the same basic public and commercial services that urban Americans enjoy. Advanced telecommunications services, such as high speed internet access is one of those basic services. However, misguided government regulation is keeping those of us in rural areas from taking full advantage of E-commerce,” stated Leroy Watson, National Grange Legislative Affairs Director. H.R. 1542 would help address this problem by mandating rapid deployment of high speed internet services by local phone companies to large and small communities alike. Representatives Billy Tauzin (R-LA) and John Dingell (D-MI) co-sponsored the legislation, which is commonly called the Tauzin-Dingell Bill.
Currently, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires local telephone companies to share their infrastructure with broadband competitors such as AT&T but not visa-versa. The 1996 law was enacted to prevent local telephone companies from monopolizing local voice communications. It had nothing to do with Internet services. The result is that telephone companies are discouraged from making the investment necessary to compete in the high speed Internet market. That leaves unregulated cable/broadband companies, like AT&T, virtually without competition. These companies have ignored rural America for more lucrative urban markets. According to U.S. government data, fewer than 5 percent of Americans in towns with 10,000 or fewer residents have broadband access. Only one percent of citizens have broadband access in towns of 2,500 or less.
The National Grange supports the Tauzin-Dingell Bill because it will break down the regulatory barriers preventing local telephone companies from providing broadband Internet service to their existing rural customers. “The adoption of Rural Free Delivery Mail service in 1901 set the precedent for universal service, or the idea that rural Americans were entitled to receive the same level and quality of public and commercial service that people in urban areas receive. Today, the Internet Freedom and Development Act of 2001 extends that idea one step further, to include universal access to advanced telecommunications technologies to all Americans regardless of where they live. Access to broadband Internet will be as important to rural America in the 21st century as universal mail and telephone service has been in the century just completed,” Watson stated.
The National Grange is the country’s oldest rural advocacy organization. It was founded in 1867. The Grange has been instrumental in passing legislation benefiting not just farmers, but all rural Americans. It focuses on the basics of rural infrastructure such as health care, education and communications. The Grange has approximately 300,000 individual members affiliated with 3,400 local, county and state Granges throughout 37 states. # # # #
I work in an area where we monitor 3 cities. The smallest is less than 4,000. They got a DSL equipped CO this august.
Yours@19,500 if I'm lucky
Steelie
yours@19,500 if I'm Lucky
steelie
Yours@19,500
steelie
Hey, everyone is subject to the confiscatory right of way laws/rules. And everyone is subject to property taxes. However, not everyone has access to the government largess that whiny farmers enjoy. Sell me your products at market cost. At least then I'll have a choice as to whether I want to subsidize your rich lifestyle.
I read something recently that says otherwise. Once I find it, I'll will post it.
untill you can get over the perception that those of us that toil in the fields have some kind of idyll that compensates for the unfairness of goverment abuse, your claims on my land and other property will have to be compensated.
It is quite reasonable to ask that a public utility that needs my land to exist will provide me with equal service. Don't you think?
The amendment for mandatory deployment was written and put forth by a D - Rep. Rush.
BTW, while I am busy finding my proof otherwise, you need to back up your statement with some proof.
Its been 4 hours and I see you've found nothing?
Not at all. Its completely unrelated to the service that will be provided. Its like asking the government to provide you a car because they're putting a road in front of your driveaway.
And if you are going to throw stones, I don't see your proof either.
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