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.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Gravis on Friday November 06 2015, @03:59PM
What's truly needed is new players of the disruptive, private competition variety and the government to get the hell out of their way.
that was the original situation... and then your "private competition" turned into the blob and merged into massive telecom companies which then purchased laws to prevent competition. your fear of government involvement and belief in "the free market" is illogical at best and borders on dogmatic.
(Score: 1, Troll) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday November 06 2015, @09:32PM
It's not a free market if there are protectionist laws. Socialist retards like you refuse to understand that what the US currently has is NOT capitalism. Not even close.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 06 2015, @10:32PM
Crony capitalism is still capitalism. And despite your implication, capitalism does not require nor produce free markets, nor are they really related in any way. The only way free markets can exist is if there are regulations to ensure the markets remain free. Free markets are more likely to exist in socialism and communism, where monopolies are less likely to exist due to individuals and individual corporations not being able to amass the kind of money needed to buy laws, lawmakers, and all of their competitors.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 07 2015, @05:26AM
Aren't bribes openly acceptable in some communist countries.
At least in the U.S. direct bribes are illegal.
(Score: 2) by NotSanguine on Saturday November 07 2015, @10:48AM
At least in the U.S. direct bribes are illegal.
It's adorable that you think that! I'm sure Santa and the Tooth Fairly take really good care of you!
No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 08 2015, @01:59AM
Ah, you mean the government gets involved.