The hole point of municipal networks are to break the monopolies by giving an alternative to consumers. They don't oust private business, they provide market competition that otherwise didn't exist. They also use public funds to build lines that private business would not have bothered to, or would wait to do, which brings more access to people that were otherwise fucked.

Maybe house republicans should focus on fighting against the 2nd amendment grabbing, and possible amnesty of wetbacks. They would actually have to be on our side to do that, so no holding of the breath.

Here's an excerpt from the link:

>The bill has an exception that would allow existing government networks to continue in cities and towns without substantial broadband competition. States or municipalities that already offer Internet service may continue to do so if "there is no more than one other commercial provider of broadband Internet access that provides competition for that service in a particular area."

>But existing networks would also be prevented from expanding into other areas. The bill says that states and municipalities already offering service "may not construct or extend facilities used to deliver broadband Internet access service beyond the geographic area in which the State or political subdivision thereof lawfully operates." The Republican bill also makes an exception for the Tennessee Valley Authority, which operates a fiber network but doesn't have carveouts for any other specific entities.

Still, even if existing government networks are grandfathered, is this really something Congress should regulate? This is best left to the individual states.

And I always thought Republicans wanted smaller government. :confused: