Blandin on Broadband

We’re a long way form North Carolina (despite the hot weather today) – but an article on the Baller Herbst’s email list about North Carolina caught my eye.

Think South is a blog maintained by the Center for a Better South. They recently ran a post on North Carolina cities’ reaction to a bill being considered in the North Carolina State Legislature to limit the ability of municipalities to provide Broadband Internet access to residents.

Not surprisingly, telecommunication and cable companies support the bill. Cities don’t. One issue brought up by cities is the potential impact on rural and/or poor areas where private entities are often not interested in investing in infrastructure to support connectivity.

The blog quotes an article from the Independent Weekly that quotes Rep. Angela Bryant (D-Halifax, Nash):

“Technology’s moving so fast, some of my cities and counties say that as far as they’re concerned, broadband service is almost like electricity, water and natural gas in terms of how essential it would be for citizens to have it and how much of a deprivation it would be not to, just because private industry won’t do it,” she [Rep. Angela Bryant (D-Halifax, Nash)] says. She’d like to find some balance between the concerns of the industry and needs of local communities.

It’s hard not to see both sides. The municipalities (who don’t pay taxes and don’t need to make a profit) would have a distinct advantage in the marketplace. Yet, a community without broadband access runs the risk of a distinct economic disadvantage. Where do we strike a balance? It’s an interesting question and I’m sure that the issues that surface in North Carolina could surface here in Minnesota too.