Fair Fights and Free Markets

Fair Fights and Free Markets

GONs as retail competitors

Welcome to FISPALIVEWelcome to FISPALIVEAtlanta 2014Atlanta 2014

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Government Help

“The nine most terrifying words in the English Language are: ‘I’m from the Government, and I’m here to help.’” – Ronald Reagan

Government “Help” from a GON.

- Uses Tax payer dollars to defray costs.- Competes on a retail level with free market

participants.- Creeps into other areas not authorized by

State Law in Tennessee- Cable TV.- Web hosting.- Technical support services.- Telecommunications and Equipment.

Service Provider Forum 2013

Legislation in Tennessee

Seeks to expand the reach of Government Owned Retail Networks.

Sells itself as serving “unserved areas”.Defines “unserved” as not having “fiber”,

“symmetrical” and “100mbps” service.Allows and encourages the GON to “Cherry

Pick” the best customers.


Rhetoric used by GON advocates

It is needed by our Health Care system.It is for the “children”, “Sick Children”It is for economic development.It creates jobs.It provides competition.There is no competition. It is a “crisis”.

The only acceptable technology is FTTH and FTTB.


Tennessee as a Test

Home of EPB – Nations largest taxpayer subsidized, retail network.

Held out as the model of success.Cost in excess of $300 Million Dollars.

– $111 Million a Federal Dept. of Energy Grant.– Balance Electric Revenue Bonds.


Tennessee Legislative Efforts

Allow Government Networks outside their municipal boundaries.

Cherry Pick best customers.Does Not solve universal access “problem”


Learning the System

Legislation is introduced in the first few weeks of the “session”. It has “sponsors” and “co-sponsors”.


Early Engagement

Use your state legislature website to find the bills that affect your business. Find the sponsors and co-sponsors and email them.

Follow up with a phone call.


Spend a Day at your Capital.

Visit the sponsor in his or her office.Visit the co-sponsors.Find the Committee Members offices.Hang out in the hallway and “lobby”.

Eventually you will find who you are looking for.

Network with others.Leave behind business cards, letters,

material that bolsters your position.


Find your Allies

This issue, my allies were:Other FISPA Tennessee Service Providers.ATT, Charter, Comcast, Centurylink, TDDS.Others such as the National Taxpayers

Union.NFIB was also helpful behind the scenes.

– Helpful if you are contributing to NFIB “Safe Trust”.


God Hates a Coward

Smaller providers should take the lead.It is hard to argue that RevTel is the Big Bad

Phone Company.Take Every Opportunity you can to tell your

story.You know far more than they do about the

issue.


Victory

The Bill I was opposed to was withdrawn in committee after it was clear the sponsor lacked the votes to proceed.

I’m sure we will do it all over again next January.


Now a National Issue


The GON proponents think this is just like the 1930s and the Electrification of rural America. They want the Government to own the network. They are not your allies.

Hear Chairman Wheeler

“I believe that it is in the best interests of consumers and competition that the FCC exercises its power to preempt state laws that ban or restrict competition from community broadband. Given the opportunity, we will do so.”


Insist on open access

I prefer that Government protect my private property rights.

That May not be a realistic goal. Therefore a compromise is to insist on open access.

Don’t let the Government take over this thriving industry.


Documents

Fair Fights and Free Markets