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Updated: Jun 19th, 2005 - 20:05:13 |
A bill making its way through the Legislature could kill Winter Springs' nascent plans to provide high-speed access to the Internet known as broadband to city residents. Any other Seminole County city with similar ideas also would be left hanging.
The legislative proposal is flying under the radar, but it should be illuminated with neon lights because it's a bad bill. It would have a negative effect across Central Florida, from Lake to Volusia County and points in between.
Introduced by state Rep. Frank Attkisson, R- Kissimmee, House Bill 1325 would severely limit who can get into the telecommunications field, which includes crucial Internet technology. Under the bill, only private companies need apply.
The irony is, Winter Springs already has most of the technology in place and could be up and running in a short time.
Meanwhile, cities that already offer some form of broadband, including St. Cloud in Osceola and Leesburg in Lake, wouldn't be able to expand and could very well lose existing customers. One amendment would limit a municipality's telecommunications service to city limits, jeopardizing more-rural counties such as Lake.
This has set off a scurrying to Tallahassee among Florida city officials, and rightly so. Local governments should be able to provide telecommunications services. The alternative is to wait for a private company to deem it profitable to wire a city or region. Or, settle for little or no competition. Neither alternative is acceptable.
Proponents of the bill argue government shouldn't compete with business because services would be unfairly subsidized by taxpayers. But competition is good for the economy, it's good for business and it's good for customers.
Major telecommunications carriers receive federal subsidies to provide telephone service to the poor -- with nary a complaint.
Internet technology no longer is a luxury; it is a necessity for homes, schools and libraries. It can be an important economic development tool and can help shave city costs.
Internet technology is becoming a utility, just like electrical, water and sewage service. Many municipalities and counties offer these services, and the profits boost local budgets.
If the bill passes -- it cleared one House subcommittee and another hearing is scheduled this week -- local government will be out of the telecommunications picture. That is wrong.
Municipalities should be able to provide Internet technology for the good of the community.
Seminole County Watch.com
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