North Carolina. Time Warner Cable and its cronies in the General Assembly

[madmax]

http://act2.freepress.net/call/NC_muni/

"They're at it again in North Carolina. Time Warner Cable and its cronies in the General Assembly are trying to ram through a new bill that would prevent local communities from creating their own high-speed Internet networks. A vote could come as early as this Wednesday.

If passed, this legislation would limit the building of new networks to private companies -- most of which refuse to provide service in rural areas.

Like those that came before it, this bill is simply unacceptable. All North Carolinians deserve a choice of high-speed networks, and not just among those built by major corporations.

Call and tell Representative Paul Stam to vote NO on the Level Playing Field/Local Government Competition Bill (H129)

We've provided talking points and an easy way to tell us how your call went.

The logic of this bill (H129, Level Playing Field/Local Government Competition) is mind-bending. It would burden municipal broadband providers with massive financial and regulatory requirements while giving private providers like Time Warner Cable a free ride. The bill was designed to appease cable lobbyists who would rather keep rural North Carolina unconnected than allow for any competition.

Large sections of rural North Carolina still lack access to vital high-speed Internet services. If national cable companies won't build out their networks, local communities should have the chance to step in. But this bill would make that impossible.

North Carolina's elected officials need to stop this bad bill. Please call Rep. Stam and tell him to vote NO now".

Thanks,
Josh Levy
Online Campaign Manager
Free Press Action Fund http://act2.freepress.net/call/NC_muni/