Michigan Town Approves Fiber Internet Despite Intense Lobbying

guest · Jun 16, 2019

Michigan Town Approves Fiber Internet Despite Intense Lobbying
Traverse City Light and Power approves fiber optic internet
June 12, 2019
https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/traverse-city-light-and-power-approves-fiber-optic-internet

A project to bring faster internet to thousands of northern Michigan customers took a step forward Tuesday night.

Members of the public expressed concerns over a public utility getting involved with something they think should be for private companies.
But others think the investment in fiber optic internet could be good for bringing tech businesses to Traverse City.
"Why is the government in competition with private companies?," said Barb Willing, concerned about fiber internet project. "That should be the major question that you're asking."

“High-speed fiber is absolutely the way to go at this moment. We have no time to lose," said Gruman, principal at Boomerang Catapult LLC. "Other cities and communities are ahead of us. We’ve got to catch up quickly. We’ve got to keep paddling quickly.”
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guest · Jun 16, 2019

2018
Similar efforts have failed in city after city
https://www.mackinac.org/traverse-city-continuing-push-for-government-run-internet

Studies from the Mercatus Centerand the University of Pennsylvania show that virtually every time government-owned networks have been tried, they lose money and don’t meet their expectations, leaving taxpayers with a bill and little else.

Technology moves too fast for government. If Traverse City wants faster internet, it should explore options that get government out of the way and increase competition among private providers. Markets will sort out what people are willing to pay for these services without having to force taxpayers to foot some of the bill.
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More critic:
Anti-Tax Group Rails Against Publicly Owned Fiber Networks
https://www.govtech.com/network/Anti-Tax-Group-Rails-Against-Publicly-Owned-Fiber-Networks.html

Norquist said he's not aware of one that has succeeded without bailouts or hidden taxes or fees.
"Don't walk down this alley, trying to run a government-owned network," he said. "We have seen this movie, it ends poorly."

Arends said he anticipated outside groups opposing the project. He disputed the emails' terminology, noting that residents wouldn't pay more in property taxes to fund the project, nor would TCL&P customers see a rate hike.
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