Taking fiber optic fight to Raleigh

The bill, which is supported by cable and broadband industries, would prohibit cities from cross-subsidizing communications with other governmental funds.
In 2009, the Public Utilities Committee, chaired by Rep. Lorene Coates, D-Rowan, voted to have a committee look at the bill, which is called House Bill 1252.
The N.C. League of Municipalities opposes the bill, which has since been studied by various committees.
Salisbury Mayor Susan Kluttz, City Manager David Treme, Assistant to the City Manager Doug Paris, Broadband Services Director Mike Crowell, RowanWorks Director Robert Van Geons and Salisbury business owner Brad Walser attended the meeting Wednesday. They spoke for 25 minutes in opposition of the bill.
Walser is owner of Walser Technology Group on South Main Street.
"Brad was able to offer a different perspective to this committee," Kluttz said. "His business very much depends on this type of technology."
Walser called the experience "eye opening."
"I'm a firm believe that fiber optics will open the door to innovation and current high bandwidth applications, such as telemedicine, remote training in education, hoteling and telecommuting," Walser said. "It opened my eyes to how hard the city is having to fight to ensure they can install this fiber network."
Walser said he was unaware that the planned network wasn't a done deal.
"I always thought that we had approval, and it was moving forward," he said. "I understand why the city is fighting to make sure no bills are passed, and also fighting on behalf of other N.C. municipalities to make sure they can also have the right to put in the same type of fiber infrastructure," he said.
Walser said he understands why the private sector and large telecommunication companies do not want municipalities installing fiber optic networks.
"Fiber optic technology is far superior to the other technology currently used by these telecommunication companies," Walser said. "It (fiber) helps my business because our business model relies on affordable, reliable bandwidth.
"Certain areas within the city limits cannot receive reliable bandwidth. We host websites, e-mails, off-site data storage, and for them to get that data to us, they need a good connection to the Internet."