Yes everyone is can use roads. Can you as a pirvate citizen use the government easement? That logic is flawed, becuase normal people cant just dig a cable through the public easement. but a normal person can use the roads. the laws that were put in place decades ago were to ensure that these companies had the rights to use public land, and easement, but at the same time they had to give benefit to the community as a whole. Including public access stations and the likes. Is verizon required to have public access stations? Are they required to carry all the counties/cities governments channels? Heck BHN in the city of ocoee carries 5 channels, free that are mandated by the county/city (thats 10HD channels right their more if they are lower speed) or over 35 regular digital channels....
I said "I think it is only fair that cable and utility companies pay for use of the right of way public land, but that is where it should end"
You mention they have to give back to the community as a whole? Why is that a good law? Paying for usage should be enough. Giving back public access is typical government intervening. I would rather see 10 more HD channels than 5 city channels (as per your argument), I don't know about the rest of you.
Which side are you on steveni? Are you saying that they shouldn't have to offer these city and county channels like I am? Or are you saying that since they have to offer them, Verizon should too? Neither should! It is not a job of the cable and phone companies to get the word out of government. Last I checked I can pick up my city government channels with an antenna (not that I care to watch).
Here in Pinellas and neighboring Hillsborough, the governments are whining as we speak since BHN is moving all the government channels to the higher digital tier. One councilman went as far as to say that the (crummy) city channel would no longer get those 'flipping through channels" moving from channel 17 or whatever to the 300's. It is that bad that they have to rely on flippers to catch the action of the city at work?
Their numbers show 1/3rd of the city "watches" the city government channel according to my local paper. I am sure 1/3rd of people have seen it or know about it, but I highly doubt 1/3rd of the city sits and watches it. Most of the meetings aren't live anyway. A truly involved citizen usually goes to the meetings. This is just silly.
We do way too much in this country to make things comfortable to the poor and unfortunate. Whoever said the poor deserve comfort?? You give them a welfare check, county health care, paid electric bills and water bills, free lunch for the kids at school. What is their incentive to rise above? Many of them have it better than their hard working counterparts that are above the magical poverty line. We should cut off all assistance except for the truly disabled. You crap out three kids before you're 20 and that is your problem!
If somebody wants to see the government channels, it is now on digital. Can't afford it? Get a job and work your way up until you can afford digital cable.
Look at all the immigrants that come here from NOTHING. They have nothing and they come here and succeed with small businesses and work their way up from the bottom. Too many people in this country expect too much.
BHN, I agree with you for once.. moving those channels out of the teens and into the 300s! When they call in bitching about it, tell them to get a job or skip the cigarettes and boos and buy rabbit ears!