...maybe dropping G4 and other channels in the middle of a fight for primacy of copper wires into our homes isn't such a good idea.
So, I know Comcast does great things for the community, people volunteer with shelters and other projects, and they do provide fairly reliable cable and internet service. However.. Cable Bill Dead, Chattanooga Invites AT&T; To Provide Video Service | WDEF News 12 | News, Weather and Sports for Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley, let's roll out the red carpet for AT&T; to come into Chattanooga to provide cable and broadband services.
First of all, lack of competition is never good. Do I think prices will drop with cable alternatives? Not really, especially since I'm still dismayed that prices keep going up and up for cellular service and broadband in general, not to mention cable TV. But will we have more options? Certainly. As a consumer, that's always good.
How will it affect public access and other educational broadcasts? We don't know. We can imagine worst-case scenarios, but there are probably some positives that could come from this as well. Time will tell. Was quite a lobby effort against this though, and I can't help but think, if that money had been used to buy airtime for educational broadcasts, at least it wouldn't have gone down the drain.
I did my part by broadcasting MTSU's talk show on this topic which did much to inform me and hopefully this community about the issue. However, I never saw Comcast's argument that we should all be so concerned about "playing by the rules." The community-based approach to cable/internet franchising is great, but if state-wide negotiating gives us choices, let the market decide I say.
Thoughts?
Posted by cmwillis at May 25, 2007 11:19 AM | TrackBack