Paying for fiber

The superiority of wired/fiber networks over wireless networks. This package also informs the Council members about the Irregulators v. FCC case which now enables the State of Maryland to recoup the money that was deceptively manipulated out of the intended wired/fiber network development and is now being used for wireless communications instead by local telecommunications companies. Once recovered, Montgomery County could use this money to provide Maryland residents with a safer, more reliable, economical, and secure telecommunications connection than wireless would provide. A wired/fiber network will also eliminate the increase of "electrosmog" that we would be exposed to with wireless 5G in neighborhoods.

Subsequent web pages amplify the ideas we discussed in two teleconferences with you in May. Please read the details in the corresponding attachments. In the first teleconference we outlined ideas that Tom could use to promote wired/fiber broadband networks as ideal -- not only for reliability, safety, affordability, energy efficiency -- but also good for business, more reliable for first responders, and helping to close the digital divide.

A Case for Wired Broadband documents the overall positive features of wired/fiber broadband versus wireless, plus points out that our current access to the internet is dominated by the “triopoly” of Verizon, AT&T, and Comcast who impose artificial scarcity, planned obsolescence, and high prices to maintain their immense profits. It is therefore more advantageous for community broadband networks to be financed, constructed and managed locally like other parts of our public infrastructure.

Wired Broadband is Good for Business shows that a sturdy, wired communications infrastructure, using wireless only as an adjunctive technology, has vast potential to become the electronic essential to commerce, education, jobs, the economy, social cohesion, communications, and international competitiveness.

Verizon Anti-Union Activities documents the continuing negative campaign carried out by Verizon, in particular, against unions.

Wired Broadband Addresses the Digital Divide quotes legislative officials and noted authors agreeing that wireless hot spots are not a long-term solution to the digital divide. Instead, the installation of high-speed broadband networks across a state is what is needed.

Wired Broadband vs Wireless for First Responders emphasizes a long-recognized need to use existing broadband assets/infrastructure for first responders, and that 5G and future versions of wireless networks are unlikely to provide universal, guaranteed connectivity any time soon.

Our second teleconference with you included Bruce Kushnick, Managing Director of the Irregulators team, reviewing its lawsuit against the FCC. Two information sheets provide details on this topic:

What Irregulators Case Win Means to Maryland relates how the States are now able to go after the money that was deceptively manipulated out of broadband into wireless communications, plus get the broadband networks that were promised but never completed or deployed. The limited data that the Irregulators have on Maryland is included.

Irregulators Next Steps suggests various public players and organizations that may be able to assist with this effort.

As of the end May, the Irregulators team was working heavily with NY and PA and is in talks with 3 other states. In NY, they got Verizon NY to agree to install 10,000 fiber optic lines in underserved areas, plus get the needed repairs for the copper networks. This is estimated to be worth about $300 million to $1/2 billion dollars over time. The Irregulators are helping these states devise the most appropriate strategies for forensic analysis, legal, and auditing activities. Normally state officials and local lawyers will uncover the evidence and/or initiate legal action, but aided by the Irregulator team’s specialized knowledge. Also, other parties who have evidence of malfeasance can get involved, e.g., in the NY cases Communications Workers of America and Public Utility Law Project participated. Further, the Irregulators team is in the process of developing a “State and Municipal Defense Package” to help guide the states to correct this enormous accounting scandal.

Regarding Maryland’s involvement in the Irregulators process, we suggest that Councilmember Tom Hucker, along with key players like Attorney General Brian Frosh and Comptroller Peter Franchot, converse with Bruce Kushnick to obtain information on how Maryland can partner to effectively proceed with this pro-consumer, wired /fiber broadband plan to benefit business, narrow the digital divide, aid first responders, and lower inflated telecommunications prices.