Library

Jim Baller responds to Progress & Freedom Foundation’s 2004 “study”

P&FF maintains that public entities should not enter the communications because they have numerous unfair advantages over their private-sector counterparts. Citing two earlier studies and  three new case histories, P&FF also maintains that public communications ventures are likely fail. None of these arguments has merit.

APPA responds to common industry myths

More than 2,000 communities across the country have created public power systems—not-for-profit electric utilities that are owned by the communities and the people they serve. Public power systems share a common purpose—to provide adequate, reliable service at a reasonable price. They are locally owned and operated, giving citizens a direct voice in utility decisions through public meetings, the ballot box, and open policy board meetings. Across the country, not-for-profit utilities have an established track record of delivering affordable services. Nearly 500 of them have already celebrated 100 years in business, with 70 percent of all public power systems serving communities of less than 10,000 people.

Anticompetitive Incumbent Practices

By Jim Baller & Casey Lide

Over the last two decades, Congress has enacted increasingly forceful federal legislation intended to foster and protect competition in the cable industry. The evidence bears out the wisdom of this policy — year in and year out, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has found that incumbents charge lower prices, offer more channels, provide better customer service and introduce more new products and services in markets in which they face meaningful competition from terrestrial competitors than in markets in which they do not.

Study of Economic and Community Benefits of Cedar Falls, Iowa’s Municipal Telecommunications Network

The purpose of this study was to investigate the economic growth and quality of life benefits a municipal communications system stimulates. Data was collected to compare the level of activity within two adjoining communities, Cedar Falls and Waterloo commonly referred to as the “Cedar Valley”. The specific areas measured include economic development (business recruitment, business retention and expansion), enhanced education, improved healthcare, competitive advantages and population growth. The following presents the findings in each of these identified areas.