“LUS lawyer says cities taking lead”

The Advocate does a good job of overviewing Jim Baller’s TechSouth address yesterday. Baller, who represents LUS, is widely regarded as one of the nation’s top lawyers on issues involving telecommunications and that reputation rests securely on his work helping municipalities. Beyond his role in our not so little battle, knowledgeable folks all over the country find Baller is worth listening to.

A theme in his interviews and frequent public presentations recently has been the concern that the United States is falling rapidly in the rankings in broadband deployment behind other nations of the world, a failure that we can ill-afford as nations like India and China move rapidly to dominate the world’s industrial base as a direct consequence of the lower costs of labor. Because he (and many economists as well) regard this as inevitable, it seems necessary —and urgent—to find some other way for Americans to earn a living. Most folks who come to this conclusion look to “the knowledge economy” and the “information age” with a strong admixture of “creatives” as our best bet to remain on top of the economic pile globally.

That background explains some of the passion we heard yesterday (I attended), a passion the Advocate story accurately reflects. Some of the best quotes:

“The United States is falling behind the remainder of the world in broadband services because telecommunications corporations have been slow to keep up.

That’s why municipalities across the country are trying to get into the business themselves, said Jim Baller, a Washington, D.C., attorney who represents many of those municipalities.”

Baller is peeved with those companies and feels they’ve let America down. It’s hard to argue when you see numbers like these:

In Japan, consumers can already receive 100 Mbps service for $58 a month — a fraction of the per megabit cost Americans pay.

Other parts of Europe and Asia are also well ahead of the United States, Baller said.

This issue has been widely reported in the technical press, with Korea, a country regarded by most Americans as third world, acknowledged to be ahead of Japan, but the issue doesn’t appear to have much traction among news outlets oriented toward “breaking” news and sensationalism. When it does appear it gets mostly “wow, how amazing” or “gosh, how terrible” kind of coverage. Nobody tries to tell us what the problem is. Baller does:

The problem is phone and cable companies have formed an effective “duopoly.” Municipalities will have to provide competition in order to raise the U.S. prospects, Baller said.

“I don’t believe the private sector can do it alone,” Baller said. “Municipalities have a critical role to play.”

Well, it isn’t that the “effective duopoly” can’t do it alone. That’s just a polite way to say they won’t when you’ve got Gary Cassard of Cox Cable sitting in the back of the room. I’m not half so polite. They won’t because, being effective monopolies, their economic self-interest lies in wearing out their infrastructure before replacing it. The good and wealth of the United States don’t factor into their equations; only their own do. And honestly, given the situation these companies find themselves in, they are acting rationally. The irrational actors are ourselves: the citizens of this country. We’ve let ourselves be blinded by ideologues that demand that we ignore the plain fact that the telecommunications system that is crucial to our future economic health is dominated by ailing monopolies dependent upon antique networking hardware that they cannot afford to upgrade in anything like a timely manner and still maintain the profit margins that are necessary to satisfy their stockholder owners.

If they won’t do it then we can.

The solution is municipal broadband networks. Invest in ourselves and bypass the dinosaurs. This is just what LUS is prepared to do. As the largest municipal broadband build in the nation, Lafayette is unquestionably on the cusp of doing something pretty amazing.

What Baller is arguing in a pretty understated way is that we are lighting the way not just by lighting up with advanced fiber technology, but also by deciding to employ a municipal solution that bypasses the ailing giants. If other cities follow our lead the US might well regain hers.

It’s what folks like Baller hope for . . . and what the incumbents most fear is true.

459 thoughts on ““LUS lawyer says cities taking lead””

  11. Thank you great posting about essential oil. Hello Administ . Onwin engelsiz giriş adresi ile 7/24 siteye butonlarımızla erişim sağlayabilir ve Onwin üyelik işlemini 3 dakika da halledebilirsiniz. onwin , onwin giriş , onwin güncel giriş , onwin

  12. Thank you great posting about essential oil. Hello Administ . Onwin engelsiz giriş adresi ile 7/24 siteye butonlarımızla erişim sağlayabilir ve Onwin üyelik işlemini 3 dakika da halledebilirsiniz. onwin , onwin giriş , onwin güncel giriş , onwin

  13. Thank you great posting about essential oil. Hello Administ . Onwin engelsiz giriş adresi ile 7/24 siteye butonlarımızla erişim sağlayabilir ve Onwin üyelik işlemini 3 dakika da halledebilirsiniz. onwin , onwin giriş , onwin güncel giriş , onwin

  150. After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.Onwin engelsiz giriş adresi ile 7/24 siteye butonlarımıza Tiklayip erişim sağlayabilir ve Onwin üyelik işlemini 3 dakika da halledebilirsiniz.

  151. Thank you for great information. Hello Administ . Onwin engelsiz giriş adresi ile 7/24 siteye butonlarımıza Tiklayip erişim sağlayabilir ve Onwin üyelik işlemini 3 dakika da halledebilirsiniz.

  155. I really love to read such an excellent article. Helpful article. Hello Administ . Dünyanın her yerinden kalite puanı yüksek sitelerden hacklink almak için bizimle iletişim kurabilirsiniz. Hacklink ihtiyaçlarınledebilirsiniz.

  156. Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information. Dünyanın her yerinden kalite puanı yüksek sitelerden hacklink almak için bizimle iletişim kurabilirsiniz. Hacklink ihtiyaçlarınledebilirsiniz.

  157. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. Onwin nedir? Kaçak bahis camiası içerisinde en yüksek oranlara, avantajlı bonuslara ve zengin spor bahisleri, casino bölümleriyledebilirsiniz.

  158. Thank you great posting about essential oil. Hello Administ . Dünyanın her yerinden kalite puanı yüksek sitelerden hacklink almak için bizimle iletişim kurabilirsiniz. Hacklink ihtiyaçlarınledebilirsiniz.

  159. Thank you for great article. Hello Administ . Onwin nedir? Kaçak bahis camiası içerisinde en yüksek oranlara, avantajlı bonuslara ve zengin spor bahisleri, casino bölümleriyledebilirsiniz.

  160. Thank you for great information. Hello Administ . Onwin nedir? Kaçak bahis camiası içerisinde en yüksek oranlara, avantajlı bonuslara ve zengin spor bahisleri, casino bölümleriyledebilirsiniz.

  161. Good info. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it. Dünyanın her yerinden kalite puanı yüksek sitelerden hacklink almak için bizimle iletişim kurabilirsiniz. Hacklink ihtiyaçlarınledebilirsiniz.

  162. Thank you for great information. Hello Administ . Onwin nedir? Kaçak bahis camiası içerisinde en yüksek oranlara, avantajlı bonuslara ve zengin spor bahisleri, casino bölümleriyledebilirsiniz.

  163. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.Dünyanın her yerinden kalite puanı yüksek sitelerden hacklink almak için bizimle iletişim kurabilirsiniz. Hacklink ihtiyaçlarınledebilirsiniz.

  164. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.Dünyanın her yerinden kalite puanı yüksek sitelerden hacklink almak için bizimle iletişim kurabilirsiniz. Hacklink ihtiyaçlarınledebilirsiniz.

  165. Nice article inspiring thanks. Hello Administ . Dünyanın her yerinden kalite puanı yüksek sitelerden hacklink almak için bizimle iletişim kurabilirsiniz. Hacklink ihtiyaçlarınledebilirsiniz.

  166. Thank you great post. Hello Administ .Dünyanın her yerinden kalite puanı yüksek sitelerden hacklink almak için bizimle iletişim kurabilirsiniz. Hacklink ihtiyaçlarınledebilirsiniz.

  167. Thank you for content. Area rugs and online home decor store. Hello Administ . Dünyanın her yerinden kalite puanı yüksek sitelerden hacklink almak için bizimle iletişim kurabilirsiniz. Hacklink ihtiyaçlarınledebilirsiniz.

  168. Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me.Dünyanın her yerinden kalite puanı yüksek sitelerden hacklink almak için bizimle iletişim kurabilirsiniz. Hacklink ihtiyaçlarınledebilirsiniz.

  169. I really love to read such an excellent article. Helpful article. Hello Administ . Dünyanın her yerinden kalite puanı yüksek sitelerden hacklink almak için bizimle iletişim kurabilirsiniz. Hacklink ihtiyaçlarınledebilirsiniz.

  170. Thank you for content. Area rugs and online home decor store. Hello Administ . Dünyanın her yerinden kalite puanı yüksek sitelerden hacklink almak için bizimle iletişim kurabilirsiniz. Hacklink ihtiyaçlarınledebilirsiniz.

  171. Thank you for great content. Hello Administ. Dünyanın her yerinden kalite puanı yüksek sitelerden hacklink almak için bizimle iletişim kurabilirsiniz. Hacklink ihtiyaçlarınledebilirsiniz.

  172. Good info. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it. Dünyanın her yerinden kalite puanı yüksek sitelerden hacklink almak için bizimle iletişim kurabilirsiniz. Hacklink ihtiyaçlarınledebilirsiniz.

  173. Great post thank you. Hello Administ . Dünyanın her yerinden kalite puanı yüksek sitelerden hacklink almak için bizimle iletişim kurabilirsiniz. Hacklink ihtiyaçlarınledebilirsiniz.

  174. Great post thank you. Hello Administ . Dünyanın her yerinden kalite puanı yüksek sitelerden hacklink almak için bizimle iletişim kurabilirsiniz. Hacklink ihtiyaçlarınledebilirsiniz.

  175. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. casibom

  183. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. casibom

  184. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. casibom

  198. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. onwin

  213. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. Bahsegel

  222. Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Web Site Hit Arttırma | Organik Hit Programı | Organik Hit – Yüksek Hit Aktif Hit Kullanıcı Yola Organik Hit

  223. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. Hacklink , Hacklink panel , Hacklink al Onwin , Onwin Giriş , Onwin Güncel Giriş , Onwin Resmi Sitesi. <a href="https://sites.google.com/view/onwinnguncel/&quot; title="onw

  234. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. Hacklink , Hacklink panel , Hacklink al Hacklink panel

  239. Thank you great post. Hello Administ . Metropol Halı Karaca Halı Öztekin ve Selçuklu Halı Cami Halısı ve Cami Halıları Türkiye’nin En Büyük Cami Halısı Fabrikasıyız…

  240. I really love to read such an excellent article. Helpful article. Hello Administ . Metropol Halı Karaca Halı Öztekin ve Selçuklu Halı Cami Halısı ve Cami Halıları Türkiye’nin En Büyük Cami Halısı Fabrikasıyız…

  241. Thank you for content. Area rugs and online home decor store. Hello Administ . Metropol Halı Karaca Halı Öztekin ve Selçuklu Halı Cami Halısı ve Cami Halıları Türkiye’nin En Büyük Cami Halısı Fabrikasıyız…

  249. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. Hacklink , Hacklink panel , Hacklink al Hacklink panel

  269. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. Click on the Keyword to Enter the Website. Bahsegel

  273. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. Click on the Keyword to Enter the Website. RoyalBet

  276. Hello! I could have sworn I�ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it�s new to me. Click on the Keyword to Enter the Website. Cepbahis

  288. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. Hacklink Panel Hacklink

  298. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. Hacklink Panel Hacklink

  299. Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Click on the Keyword to Enter the Website. Cepbahis

  310. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. hacklink panel

  328. After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader. Onwin , Onwin Giriş , Onwin Güncel Giriş , Tiklayin. Onwin

  330. Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Onwin , Onwin Giriş , Onwin Güncel Giriş , Tiklayin. Onwin

  331. Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Onwin , Onwin Giriş , Onwin Güncel Giriş , Tiklayin. Onwin

  338. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. Website Giriş için Tıklayin. onwin

  347. Hackdra is a cyber security company that can provide smart contract auditing, pen-testing, bug bounty, blockchain, web3, DeFi, NFT, and ARM services with AI.

  349. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. Hacklink Panel Hacklink

  360. Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. 兒童色情 儿童色情片

  362. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. 儿童色情 儿童色情片

  388. smmpanel,smm panel,smm panel ,instagram takipçi hilesi, instagram takipçi arttırma, instagram takipçi hilesi 2023, instagram takipçi hilesi 2023, instagram takipçi hilesi nasıl yapılır, instagram takipçi hilesi şifresiz, instagram takipçi hilesi uygulama, instagram takipçi hilesi ücretsiz, instagram bedava takipçi hilesi, instagram bedava takipçi hilesi nasıl yapılır, takipçi hilesi, takipçi hilesi 2021, takipçi hilesi instagram 2023, takipçi hilesi nasıl yapılır, takipçi hilesi #instagram

  389. smmpanel,smm panel,smm panel ,instagram takipçi hilesi, instagram takipçi arttırma, instagram takipçi hilesi 2023, instagram takipçi hilesi 2023, instagram takipçi hilesi nasıl yapılır, instagram takipçi hilesi şifresiz, instagram takipçi hilesi uygulama, instagram takipçi hilesi ücretsiz, instagram bedava takipçi hilesi, instagram bedava takipçi hilesi nasıl yapılır, takipçi hilesi, takipçi hilesi 2021, takipçi hilesi instagram 2023, takipçi hilesi nasıl yapılır, takipçi hilesi #instagram

  394. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.

  395. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.

  408. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.

  427. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.Onwin Giriş için Tıklayın onwin

  428. I really love to read such an excellent article. Helpful article. Hello Administ . Websiteye Giriş için Tıklayın. a href=”https://cutt.ly/SahabetSosyal/” title=”Sahabet” rel=”dofollow”>Sahabet

  430. Thank you for great article. Hello Administ .Websiteye Giriş için Tıklayın. a href=”https://cutt.ly/SahabetSosyal/” title=”Sahabet” rel=”dofollow”>Sahabet

  431. Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Websiteye Giriş için Tıklayın. a href=”https://cutt.ly/SahabetSosyal/” title=”Sahabet” rel=”dofollow”>Sahabet

  432. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. Website Giriş için Tıklayın. Starzbet

  439. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.Website Giriş için Tıklayın: tipobet

  440. Thank you for great information. Hello Administ . Websiteye Giriş için Tıklayın. a href=”https://cutt.ly/SahabetSosyal/” title=”Sahabet” rel=”dofollow”>Sahabet

  452. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.