AT&T Blocks Citizen Broadband To Guarantee Itself An Uneven Playing Field

"Boston's New "Wicked Free Wi-Fi Network"

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2014/09/bostons-new-wicked-free-wi-fi-network.html

***

"Socialism" Works: Credit Unions Are Clearly Better Than Commercial Banks
Time to level the playing field by letting CUs provide all commercial services.
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2014/08/about-100-million-americans-now-use.html

***

AT&T Blocks Citizen Broadband

In a filing to the FCC that one can only characterize as f-ing insane:

AT&T appreciates this opportunity to comment on the petitions of the Electric Power Board of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the City of Wilson, North Carolina, asking the Commission to act pursuant to section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 19962 to preempt portions of Tennessee and North Carolina statutes that they claim restrict their ability to provide broadband services. AT&T shares petitioners’ desire to ensure that all Americans, including, but not limited to, those living in and around Chattanooga and Wilson, have access to world class broadband infrastructure. AT&T is skeptical, however, as to whether government owned networks (GONs) will help advance that goal. Although AT&T does not necessarily oppose the use of GONs in areas where advanced infrastructure has not been, and is not likely to be, reasonably and timely deployed, we believe there are better and more effective ways of spurring broadband deployment in these areas, including through the FCC’s Connect America Fund.

So basically, we think that in some super small area where we have no financial incentive to build broadband, you should be able to build it. Of course:

GONs should not receive any preferential tax treatment. Indeed, any tax incentives or exemptions should be provided, if at all, to private sector firms to induce them to expand broadband deployment to unserved areas.

[bold my emphasis]

Let's get this straight: You should spend taxpayer money to build broadband when we have zero interest in an area because we don't think we will make money, but if we think we can make money (which is supposed to be our incentive as capitalists) you should give us taxpayer money to incentivize us to make more money. Also, no competition please.

The logic is spellbinding.