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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 2003)
WORl HE BATTALIO NATION [in Seii Gaza City ps killed 12 ien and 7 Palestinians ale assault afah 0 THE BATTALION 7A Monday, January 27, 2003 City-owned broadband networks fighting corporate telecom By Brian Bergstein THE ASSOCIATED PRESS If you ever wince after opening your cable bill, you’re not going to like this: The lood folks in Glasgow, Ky., pay $19 a nonth for 70 cable channels, and for an o lot. |dditional $25 they can get blazing fast 7 csiiiaj Internet access. LEB ^-Qoito H° w ( J C) they f?et prices nearly half the |ational average? ' sli I ® ecause the city-owned electric utility Irovides cable TV and Internet access over ires that also monitor power usage in the lown of 14,000. The utility isn't trying to ftrofit from the service — just recover its liosts. Utility superintendent William Ray esti- nates that since Glasgow began offering :able in 1989, $32 million of residents’ noney has stayed in town that otherwise night have been vacuumed by giant elecommunications companies — which jften don’t offer advanced services in rural ireas like Glasgow anyway. “It’s like an armored car wrecking in the treets once a year and spreading money in he streets for people to grab for them- elves,” Ray says. ISRAEL'" Wes? Bank »Radiallah Jerusalem »d Press: ESRI S IN BRIEF tant group Hairs >wd at the fur: le will contir: proot this Zior. from our hoi liter what thes; I Frustrated with the high cost and slow ■li military saidJr ace broadband deployment in much of ; d dozens of K countr y’ * publicly owned utilities ; weapon-produJ low P rov ^ e telecom services for residents, destroying eqE» c h 0 °l s > c hy agencies and their internal ioldiers blew uprJlP erat ' ons - U P nearly 14 percent from a year iming to miliinJgo, according to the American Public ;>ur Tnore Qasjrower Association. r e fired at tol Some utilities built networks from .ing no damage »cratch. Others extended infrastructure they ■ilready had, such as fiber-optic lines and Hetworking equipment needed to monitor ower flow or remote substations. Not surprisingly, big phone and cable itarV pl3ndl orn P an ' es ^ ate ^is, and have fought with . _ I* Borne success to block public gas, water and IP j. Korea llectric utilities from providing telecom Jth Korea (AP)- | erv ’ ces - Eleven states bar or restrict the y reconnaissaoc fradke, sometimes by imposing artificial d in South Korea? sf osts on municipal telecoms so the prices e South Korer |' ie y charge end up closer to what private istry said. Companies offer. :eiving reportslfia* ^ ut things may be looking up for munic- ance plane oftt has crashed, Dkesman said anonymity. 1 ner details yet." on, a U.S. in, said she hadit k A A A A AA.AAAAAAA minars ceding to rve as a luired It’s like an armored car wrecking in the streets once a year and spreading mon ey... for people to grab for themselves. —William Ray Utility superintendent ipal telecoms — thanks to recent favorable court rulings, weakness in the private tele com industry and a technological break through that lets data be transmitted over power lines. “A very large number of communities across the country are beginning to realize this is like the history of electrification all over again, and if they don’t help them selves, they’re not going to get advanced communications servic es any time in the fore seeable future,” said Jim Bailer, an attorney who has represented munici pal telecoms in several cases. “Recognition of that is forcing legisla tures to take a second look — even ones that had enacted barriers.” City-owned utilities — which generally buy their cable program ming from a cooperative in Kansas and connect to the Internet by leasing facilities from big data carriers — don’t have to be rivals of telecom companies. For example, in Washington state, which prohibits utilities from selling retail telecom services, several public power providers are becoming “carriers’ carriers” — building fiber networks that private Internet and phone providers can lease. But generally, private companies say municipal telecoms create unfair competi tion because they have no need to make profits or pay off debts quickly, have pref erential access to digging streets and other “rights of way” and are owned by cities that have regulatory power over the indus try. “The mere existence of the competition is not really an issue for us,” said Rob Stoddard, spokesman for the National Cable & Telecommunications Association. “The issue is more that the competitive playing field seems tilted in favor of munic ipalities.” The industry’s arguments also stray into other realms. In Palo Alto, Calif., where the public utility is considering spending $50 million building fiber-optic connections to every home, a SBC Pacific Bell executive gave officials “MuniToons,” a memo describing municipal telecoms as “folly.” Among its contentions: Municipal tele coms hurt a town’s tax base and may violate the First Amendment by placing the distri bution of media content under government ownership. Bailer, the utilities lawyer, believes nearly every sentence in MuniToons is “incorrect or mis leading or a half-truth.” Even SBC spokesman Kevin Belgrade said the document doesn't exactly reflect the company’s position. Richard Carlson, chairman of Palo Alto’s utility advisory com mittee, wasn't swayed by Munitoons. Nevertheless, he wor ries that a civic fiber network might lose out to private competition or become obsolete in a few years. Ultimately, the municipal tele- com fight boils down to two words: “any” and “entity.” The 1996 Telecommunications Act — meant to usher the nation into the digital age — said no state or city could prohibit “any entity” from providing “any” telecom service. With that in mind, officials in Abilene, Texas, asked the Federal Communications Commission to let them wire their own broadband network despite a 1995 Texas law banning municipal telecoms. But the FCC agreed with phone and cable companies that Congress wasn't absolutely clear whether it meant for utili ties to be “entities” protected by the law. The agency declined to overrule Texas. A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., let the decision stand. Since then, a federal district court in Virginia and the Nebraska Supreme Court have seen things differently, ruling in favor of municipal telecoms. Most importantly, so has a federal appeals court in Missouri. In hopes of getting clarity on the issue, Missouri’s attorney general plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Phi chi OVationaCSociaCCjCiristinti Sorority Sj>rtfU? 11 -c:cirl»«t;§r;.c11T; 2.CC3 in vite you to come to one ot a.CCof oter eventsl Monday, January 27, 2003 • Informational Meeting • 7:30 pm in Koldus 111 • Business Attire Wednesday, January 29, 2003 • Bible Study • 7:30 pm in All Faith's Chapel • Church Attire ’♦‘Optional: Coffee & Chat: Time 6:00 pm in Bernie's Expresso (next to Sbisa) Tuesday, January 23, 2003 • "Sister, Sister" • 7:30 pm in Koldus 111 • Dress as a Member of your Favorite Female Duo or Trio!! Bid f>artry ^ by invitation only • Friday, January 31, 2003 • Time/Place: TBA • Business/Church Attire Pl« visit www , qgooities . corn/pbx eta03 to learn more about our sorority. For further information or questions please contact Sltawna or Denise at pl~>xexec<g£H otniail.com. dventure {with benefits} Mission: Oversee an international program in one of these fields: agriculture, business, community development, education, health, environment or information technology. Benefits: 24-Vacation Days a Year, Housing, Medical and Dental, Monthly Stipend, Transportation to and from Host Country, Student Loan Deferment and Graduate Degree Opportunities. Interested? Talk to a recruiter at • Tuesday, January 28,10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Student Engineering Council Career Fair, Reed Arena • Wednesday, January 29,10 a.m. to 3 p.m. TAMU Volunteer Career Fair, MSC Flagroom www.peacecorps.gov • 1-800-424-8580 SENIORS Time is running out! Don't miss your opportunity to be in the 2003 Aggieland yearbook. Get your picture taken at AR Photography by Feb. 13 404 University Dr. E., Ste. F (in shopping center across from Albertson's) Questions? Call 693-8183 or 845-2682 Aggieland 2003 V EI R Y T M T N Y O" U IN “fe El D— Y- CY K: N O ^ Coming Soon Heart Healthy Month Make Money with Reg Sports Ti 1 , ° n recsports. timi/. et/i/ ^ Y Rec Sports celebrates FEBRUARY as Heart Healthy Month! Join the celebration by attending one of the following events: FREE Women on Weights Feb. 8th, FREE Healthy Living Lecture Feb. 1 2th, bring a guest FREE to any Rec aerobics class all day long Feb. 14th. and FREE Fitness Profiles on Feb. 21st. Sign up for prizes Feb. 1 1-14. Valentines Gift Certificates—On sale at Member Services. Fitness & Classes with a Friend Prairie jck Prairie 80-0508 • UNLIMITED Aerobics Passes—On sale now at Member Services for $50/$55. Coupon books are $15 for 10 classes and $2 for one class. Have unlimited access to our always convenient, always fun classes. Over 80 classes are offered each week! • PERSONAL TRAINING SALE—goals become reality with our help! Get 10 sessions for $1 15 or 15 sessions for $160. Partner sessions are available as well. Drop by Member Services to sign up. • Triathlon Training Program—This 8 week program is geared to the novice and fitness enthusiast that wants to train for a 'sprint' dis tance triathlon that includes a 1,000 meter swim, 15.5 mile bike ride and a 3.1 mile run. Informational meeting: Wed., January 29th at 7:15 p.m. in room 281. Registration: January 30th at 6:00 a.m. Program limited to the first 50 people signed up. • NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS MADE EASY—Sign up for your favorite instructional classes at Member Services today! Beginning Yoga, Yoga for Relaxation I & II, Beginning Power Yoga, Interme diate Power Yoga, Country & Western Dance, Jitterbug, and Texas Push classes still have openings. recsports. tome, et/e • Photographers—We need qualified action photographers to cap ture the excitement that is Rec Sports. Color 35mm and digital photography experience preferred. Be prepared to show samples of your work. Apply in room 202 or email astanton@rec.tamu.edu for more information. • Marketing Assistant—Rec Sports is looking for a creative and energetic marketing major to work on projects that include cus tomer satisfaction research and marketing plans. Interested? email astanton@rec.tamu.edu for more information. • Intramural Officials—No experience necessary. Make money working flexible hours, meeting new people, and receive paid training! Attend an orientation clinic to be hired. IM Orientation Clinics Date/Time/Location OUTDOOR SOCCER Jan. 27/7:00 p.m./281 Rec SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL Jan. 27/7:00 p.m./281 Rec Sand Volleyball Feb. 1 0/7:00 p.m./28 1 Rec 4/4 Flag Football Feb. 1 7/7:00 p.m./28 1 Rec Get Going with TAMU Outdoors Fun in the Sun with Aquatics Program Registration Cost Basic SCUBA Jan. 13-March 31 $225/$245 Adult Learn to Swim Jan. 1 3-March 3 1 $25/$35 Lifeguard Training Jan. 13-March 24 $110/$130 • Join the Masters Swimming Program. Workouts are tailored to meet the individual's goals, whether you seek to increase your fitness, improve your stroke or have a desire to com pete. Classes are Mon.-Thurs. at 6:00p.m. Live the Excitement with Sports Clubs gby Pitch iby Pitch M. Rugby vs. SWT, Feb. 1, 2:00p.m. @ Ru_ W. Rugby vs. TTU, Feb. 1,4:00p.m. @ Rug W. Rugby, LSU vs. TTU, Feb. 2, 12:00p.m. @ Rugby Pitch W. Lacrosse, HS Tournament, Feb. 1-2, all day @ Penberthy Play everyday with Intramurals Upcoming Events Lead Climbing Clinic Rock Climbing I 01 Lead Climbing Clinic Rock Climbing 1 01 Women's Rock 101 Backpacking Trip SEA KAYAK ALASKA SAIL & SCUBA Bahamas Registration Jan. 1 3-Jan. 27 Jan. 21-Jan. 28 Jan. 21-Feb. 17 Jan. 21 —Feb. 1 8 Jan. 21 -Feb. 1 8 Jan. 21-Feb. 18 Jan. 21-April 1 Jan. 21 -June 9 Event Date Jan.28 Feb. 1 Feb. 18 Feb. 22 Feb. 23 Feb. 22-23 May 25-3 1 Aua. 16-22 Sports CLOSING: Program Pre-Season Basketball Basketball Sports OPENING: Program Outdoor Soccer Slow Pitch Softball (M&W) Wallyball Table Tennis Registration ends January 28 January 28 Registration Jan. 27-Feb. 4 Jan. 27-Feb. 4 Jan. 27-Feb. 4 Jan. 27-Feb. 4 Cost $ 1 0/team $40/team Cost $40/team $40/team $ 1 0/team FREE