Huval’s “Telecom Recovery Act”

Terry Huval, LUS director, writes a guest editorial in yesterday’s newspaper that highlights the emergency and recovery lessons being learned in the wake of Katrina and Rita. He notes that BellSouth’s antiquated copper technology has not served us well, and that the snail’s pace of reconstruction has slowed recovery, especially in New Orleans. He links that to the continued attempts by BellSouth to block Lafayette’s fiber, New Orleans’ WiFi networks, and the the way that the BellSouth’s law (the Local Government Fair competition Act) serves to prevent storm-torn communities from building infrastructure that would help the prepare for future hurricanes. Huval urges the people of the state to think of repealing the (un)Fair Competition Act as actually being emergency/recovery legislation that lets people help themselves.

Readers will not be surprised to learn I think Mr. Huval is dead right.

We in Louisiana have learned that what is most needed in emergency situations is for “the big guys,” if they’re not going to stand up and help, to at least stand out of our way while we help ourselves. In Erath and Delcambre folks got in their fishing boats and went out to pluck their friends and neighbors from the rooftops. When the boats pulled up to where the flood water came over the road local deputies were there to direct them toward people who needed out. By the time the cameras showed up it was all over so you never saw dramatic shots of helicopter rescues on national television. They just weren’t needed. In Erath, nobody asked permission to go in and help. They just did it themselves. Probably they’d learned from the flotilla of small boats that set out from Lafayette after Katrina a few weeks earlier loaded up with fellas that knew their way around shallow-draft boats and with emergency medical types distributed out one to a boat. They took off from Acadiana Mall for New Orleans. Everyone knows the story. Federal and Sate officials turned them back and sent them home–or tried to. Some of the boats simply pulled over, put in, and headed out. When the authorities tried to order them out they’d drop off people a bit away from the bank to wade the last bits and took off again until they ran out of gas. So by the time Rita rolled in folks around here had it figured out: You listen to the local guys who know what they are doing and ignore those big, self-important, guys that think they know “what’s best” for your friends and neighbors.

That’s what real disaster response is…it’s what it has to be. Nobody else, even if actually willing and eager to help, will be able to match on-the-ground-knowledge of what’s really needed that local people acting in their own community’s best interest will have. The big guy need to be there to help and if they are not helping need to get out of the way.

The situation in telecommunications is analogous and Huval is right to draw out the comparison. The Local Government (un)Fair Competition Act came into existence when important, smart guys at BellSouth and Cox went to other big, important guys in the State Legislature with a request. They wanted the responsible (wiser, brighter) guys in the legislature to tell local (foolish and ignorant) people what they could not do to help build up their community.

The (un)Fair Competition Act telling trying to tell locals whether and how to do what they think best for local needs is as foolish as the FEMA orders in New Orleans that told locals that they were forbidden to help out their neighbors. The solution is the same in both cases; the officials need to hear: “If you can’t be of help, at least get out of our way.”

You might think, that as long as local economies are struggling to get back on their feet after the storms that getting into the telecom business, however good an idea, would simply be out of reach. You’d be wrong. First the sort of municipal WiFi net that New Orleans transformed into a community network is relatively cheap–and that network was crucial in the first weeks after Katrina; it is now proven emergency technology. But Huval mentions “GO Zone” funds. I had to look it up; but what I found was impressive: there is a huge pot of special bond money that communities can dip into to rebuild after the storms that was authorized by the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act a few months after Katrina. And telecom is specifically one of the things for which it can be used. So there is inexpensive funding for rebuilding local telecom networks and building more storm-resistant nets. If the state will get out of our way and repeal BellSouth’s law. But the potential goes beyond emergency wifi networks.

Part of the story of New Orleans that hasn’t been adequately told was that much of the business district never lost services. My own personal domain and email is hosted out of a server farm in New Orleans. And I never lost a minute’s service during the whole Katrina period. That service (directnic, I highly recommend them.) stayed up and had a live web-cam through the storm and the worst weeks that followed. How? Mainly because they were mostly supplied by buried fiber-optic cable. We tend to forget that the internet was was designed to resist the ultimate disaster: atomic war. Buried utilities survive storms. Could we use GO Zone money to defend ourselves by burying the utilities? I don’t know.

But until the Local Government (un)Fair Competition Act is repealed local Louisiana governments won’t be able to take full advantage of recovery opportunities.

That’s my take. You can share your take with your Representatives and Senators.

575 thoughts on “Huval’s “Telecom Recovery Act””

  14. Thank you for great article. 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

  15. Great post thank you. 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

  16. I really love to read such an excellent article. Helpful article. 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

  159. Thank you for content. Area rugs and online home decor store. Hello Administ . Onwin engelsiz giriş adresi ile 7/24 siteye butonlarımıza Tiklayip erişim sağlayabilir ve Onwin üyelik işlemini 3 dakika da halledebilirsiniz.

  160. 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.

  161. I really love to read such an excellent article. Helpful article. Hello Administ . Onwin engelsiz giriş adresi ile 7/24 siteye butonlarımıza Tiklayip erişim sağlayabilir ve Onwin üyelik işlemini 3 dakika da halledebilirsiniz.

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

  164. 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.

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

  166. 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.

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

  168. 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.

  169. Nice article inspiring thanks. Hello Administ . Onwin nedir? Kaçak bahis camiası içerisinde en yüksek oranlara, avantajlı bonuslara ve zengin spor bahisleri, casino bölümleriyledebilirsiniz.

  170. 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 nedir? Kaçak bahis camiası içerisinde en yüksek oranlara, avantajlı bonuslara ve zengin spor bahisleri, casino bölümleriyledebilirsiniz. https://seowebtasarim.net/onwin/

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

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

  173. 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.

  174. 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.

  175. Good info. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it. Onwin nedir? Kaçak bahis camiası içerisinde en yüksek oranlara, avantajlı bonuslara ve zengin spor bahisleri, casino bölümleriyledebilirsiniz.

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

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

  178. 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.

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

  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

  187. 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

  190. 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

  203. 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

  208. 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

  216. 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

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

  240. 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. Metropol Halı Karaca Halı Öztekin ve Selçuklu Halı Cami Halısı ve Cami Halıları Türkiye’nin En Büyük Cami Halısı Fabrikasıyız…

  261. 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

  263. 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

  300. I really love to read such an excellent article. Helpful article. Hello Administ . Onwin , Onwin Giriş , Onwin Güncel Giriş , Tiklayin. Onwin

  306. 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

  317. 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

  328. 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

  332. 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. 国产线播放免费人成视频播放 儿童色情片

  339. 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

  347. 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.

  365. 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.Madridbet , madridbet giriş , madridbet güncel giriş , madridbet yeni giriş , madridbet giriş

  368. 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

  386. 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.

  398. 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.

  409. 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.

  411. 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.

  466. 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 Website Giriş : Casibom

  470. 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.

  477. 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.

  479. 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.

  489. 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.

  500. After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.

  502. 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.

  504. 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.

  521. 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.

  523. 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.

  525. 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. Websiteye Giriş için Tıklayın. a href=”https://cutt.ly/SahabetSosyal/” title=”Sahabet” rel=”dofollow”>Sahabet

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

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

  533. After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader. Onwin Giriş için Tıklayın onwin

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

  537. Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information. Websiteye Giriş için Tıklayın. a href=”https://cutt.ly/SahabetSosyal/” title=”Sahabet” rel=”dofollow”>Sahabet

  540. 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

  541. Thank you for content. Area rugs and online home decor store. Hello Administ . Websiteye Giriş için Tıklayın. a href=”https://cutt.ly/SahabetSosyal/” title=”Sahabet” rel=”dofollow”>Sahabet

  542. 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

  545. 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

  546. 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 Giriş için Tıklayın onwin

  547. 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

  549. 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

  552. Great post thank you. Hello Administ . Websiteye Giriş için Tıklayın. a href=”https://cutt.ly/SahabetSosyal/” title=”Sahabet” rel=”dofollow”>Sahabet

  554. 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. Websiteye Giriş için Tıklayın. a href=”https://cutt.ly/SahabetSosyal/” title=”Sahabet” rel=”dofollow”>Sahabet

  559. 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

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

  563. 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