[+]Opieswife0 points4 points4 points
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(edited ago)
[–]Opieswife0 points
4 points
4 points
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(edited ago)
This may be an oversimplification of the situation as the telecommunication laws are complex. Currently the FCC requires larger companies to share or make available part of their infrastructure to other companies, many times smaller companies and I don't see this situation as any different.
As an alternative the muncipalities could opt to take ownership of the poles by eminent domain then rent out space on those poles. The rent could cover maintenance and replacement when necessary but the companies running wire would be responsible for maintaining their own lines.
Early in our telecommunication history the mess of wires running between buildings was astounding. If we require each company to build its own individual infrastructure along side another company in the same municipality we will end up with another mess. If we don't allow some sort of compromise or have some proper high level planning we may either stifle competition or end up with an unwieldy rats nest of poles and wires.
Just a thought... Do you want 1 set of poles for electricity, 1 for local phone, 1 or more for long distance, 1 ore more for for cable and Internet? Ok in reality I know many of these services are now combined into one or two companies but that isn't always the case. What if you had no choice because you were forced to use the only company that installed poles in your neighborhood? What if you had a choice but in order to have that choice there were multiple poles every few feet intruding onto your property or sidewalk?
You raise some valid points. Its a shit situation because At&T owns the poles, but Im curious if AT&T owns the land under them. It would give that local government the right to compensate AT&T for the poles while opening them up to all companies. Its still shitty since this company put their money and time into building this infrastructure and will be forced to hand over to competitors.
I'm not sure about the land. I think the utility companies just have an easement essentially a right to use it but not actual ownership of the property. So if a pole is in my yard it is still on my property but I can't stop the utility company from coming on my property and servicing the lines.
Generally speaking of I were a business owner I would have a problem with the government telling me to let my competitor come into the office and let them use a cubicle, computer, printer or what have you, however not every situation is so simple or black and white. Finding the right balance of rights between private citizens companies and municipalities in order to effectively and appropriately serve the community is a challenge. There are many ways to balance these needs, I don't pretend to know which is best for every situation but I do suspect it isn't a one size fits all type of thing.
[–] Opieswife 0 points 4 points 4 points (+4|-0) ago (edited ago)
This may be an oversimplification of the situation as the telecommunication laws are complex. Currently the FCC requires larger companies to share or make available part of their infrastructure to other companies, many times smaller companies and I don't see this situation as any different.
As an alternative the muncipalities could opt to take ownership of the poles by eminent domain then rent out space on those poles. The rent could cover maintenance and replacement when necessary but the companies running wire would be responsible for maintaining their own lines.
Early in our telecommunication history the mess of wires running between buildings was astounding. If we require each company to build its own individual infrastructure along side another company in the same municipality we will end up with another mess. If we don't allow some sort of compromise or have some proper high level planning we may either stifle competition or end up with an unwieldy rats nest of poles and wires.
Just a thought... Do you want 1 set of poles for electricity, 1 for local phone, 1 or more for long distance, 1 ore more for for cable and Internet? Ok in reality I know many of these services are now combined into one or two companies but that isn't always the case. What if you had no choice because you were forced to use the only company that installed poles in your neighborhood? What if you had a choice but in order to have that choice there were multiple poles every few feet intruding onto your property or sidewalk?
Edit:spelling
[–] MoonMansWay 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
You raise some valid points. Its a shit situation because At&T owns the poles, but Im curious if AT&T owns the land under them. It would give that local government the right to compensate AT&T for the poles while opening them up to all companies. Its still shitty since this company put their money and time into building this infrastructure and will be forced to hand over to competitors.
[–] Opieswife 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
I'm not sure about the land. I think the utility companies just have an easement essentially a right to use it but not actual ownership of the property. So if a pole is in my yard it is still on my property but I can't stop the utility company from coming on my property and servicing the lines.
Generally speaking of I were a business owner I would have a problem with the government telling me to let my competitor come into the office and let them use a cubicle, computer, printer or what have you, however not every situation is so simple or black and white. Finding the right balance of rights between private citizens companies and municipalities in order to effectively and appropriately serve the community is a challenge. There are many ways to balance these needs, I don't pretend to know which is best for every situation but I do suspect it isn't a one size fits all type of thing.
[–] twentyfive 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
I have high voltage lines on my property. I pay the taxes, not allowed any permanent structures within so feet
They are allowed to make repairs whenever. Basically free land
[–] Riflsauce 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
Chances are any investment they have into the poles was taxpayer funded.