Response to David Snyder on The Chattanoogan

See David Snyder's letter here

Mr. Snyder fails to understand the difference between "government subsidized" and "government oversight" (the EPB is a profitable and efficient company with zero taxpayer help).

Further, if he did a little research, he'd quickly learn about the actual subsidies that "Big Telecoms" (like AT&T & Comcast) have received from the Government, due in no small part to their massive & corrupt lobbying entities, which are more concerned with suckling from the Nashville power-teet & fleecing the consumer than with providing the best services at market rates.

And anyone who's ever had to deal with Comcast or Bellsouth can testify to the poor quality of their products & customer service. They run a monopoly in our area.

But all of that is beside the point: access to the internet is rapidly becoming a Utility or a piece of Basic Civic Infrastructure, like electricity and like roads. For Chattanooga to continue to compete economically, everyone must have access to the best internet connectivity possible. Other nations, even countries with economies "more free" than our own, have already implemented similar plans, with huge benefits to their economies.

I applaud the EPB,and hopefully in a week, the City Council, for "doing the right thing" by pursuing this plan. It shows foresight and a solid understanding of what it takes for Chattanooga to compete in the 21st century.

Chattanooga News | By Josiah Roe | 2:19 PM