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posted by martyb on Friday November 06 2015, @01:53PM   Printer-friendly
from the the-vox-populi dept.

El Reg reports

Voters in Colorado have abolished laws that had prohibited local governments from offering their own broadband internet services.

Local ballots in 17 counties all resulted in voters electing to allow their local governments to offer broadband service in competition with private cable companies. The vote overturns a 2005 law that prevented any government agency from competing in the broadband space.

[...] According to The Denver Post , the 17 counties have differing reasons for overturning the rule. Some areas want to build their own broadband infrastructure, while others simply want to offer Wi-Fi service in public buildings or improve service for farming communities.


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  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 06 2015, @03:50PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 06 2015, @03:50PM (#259494)

    on the other you have government entering into private industry with its vastly larger coffers and the ability to pass laws to help itself and hinder its competition.

    Governments and government services are not for-profit entities, unlike private industries. Government has no reason or interest in competing because the goal isn't to get rich, its to provide whatever service they're providing. Only when things are privatized out does it become a race to the bottom service-wise with a race to the top price-wise.

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  • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday November 06 2015, @09:33PM

    by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Friday November 06 2015, @09:33PM (#259671) Homepage Journal

    Government has no interest in money? This from the same type of person who will advocate that I pay more taxes so the government has to overspend less? Get real.

    --
    My rights don't end where your fear begins.
    • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 06 2015, @10:26PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 06 2015, @10:26PM (#259698)

      Government has no interest in money?

      Nowhere was that stated or even implied. "Money" and "profit" are two entirely different concepts. All the government needs for government-provided utilities and services are enough money to run the service, including paying the workers who provide it, and enough to upgrade the required equipment on a semi-regular basis; compare this to private industries who need all that PLUS however much more additional money they can get, either by squeezing it out of the suckers paying for it or by skimping on the workers' pay, the upgrades, the equipment, or the service itself.

      • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday November 06 2015, @11:52PM

        by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Friday November 06 2015, @11:52PM (#259736) Homepage Journal

        Yes, the government is altruistic and has no desire for power, which money is. Scuse me while I finish laughing.

        --
        My rights don't end where your fear begins.
        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 07 2015, @04:04AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 07 2015, @04:04AM (#259812)

          Nowhere did he say that either, you effing moron.

  • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday November 06 2015, @09:42PM

    by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Friday November 06 2015, @09:42PM (#259679) Homepage Journal

    Absolutely true when there is little or no competition. Then you regulate until competition arrives.

    --
    My rights don't end where your fear begins.