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TexasTowelie

(116,773 posts)
Tue May 4, 2021, 02:23 AM May 2021

Telecom companies file lawsuit to block $15 internet

ALBANY — A group of telecommunications trade groups that represent a broad range of internet providers has filed a lawsuit trying to block Gov. Andrew Cuomo's landmark new law that would make them provide $15-a-month internet service to low-income customers.

The new law, which was passed as part of the state budget last month, is part of a broader effort by the Cuomo administration to ensure that everyone in the state — regardless of income or location — can get high-speed internet, which during the pandemic has become more important than ever as students and workers have been forced to work and study from home.

Last week, the New York State Telecommunications Association, the Wireless Association and other groups like the Rural Broadband Association, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn seeking to block the law on the grounds that it violates federal policy to not interfere with internet rates.

"Indeed, the broadband service that New York seeks to regulate has never been subject to rate regulation at the federal or state level," the lawsuit states.

Read more: https://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Telecom-companies-file-lawsuit-to-block-15-16148096.php

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House of Roberts

(5,686 posts)
1. Telecom companies need to compete with municipal broadband.
Tue May 4, 2021, 03:50 AM
May 2021

They can either lower their rates or disappear entirely.

Ford_Prefect

(8,202 posts)
3. Not to mention how they parse the service rate down to nothing. Meanwhile in Canada and elsewhere
Tue May 4, 2021, 05:11 AM
May 2021

the whole thing is run by the Post Office as a national resource and anyone can have rapid, effective, and consistently in service internet without the bullshit levels of upload rate or data limits.

SunSeeker

(53,657 posts)
4. Yet another reason the GOP is trying to destroy the US Post Office.
Tue May 4, 2021, 05:14 AM
May 2021

They don't want the USPS doing what Canada is trying to do, especially with the proposed banking services. https://panow.com/2021/04/27/union-says-canada-post-could-deliver-banking-and-internet-services-to-rural-areas/

Republicans want their rich bank and telecom doners to continue fleecing Americans. They are nothing but a party of grifters.

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