RICHMOND, Va. - High-speed Internet networks operated by municipalities and nonprofits are fighting a pitched battle against the Comcasts and Verizons of the world, and the political and financial hurdles which small-scale Internet providers face are significant.
Nearly 400 communities nationwide have some form of publicly-owned Internet service. Christopher Mitchell, director of the Community Broadband Networks Initiative with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, says choice is at the heart of this Internet alternative - or more accurately, the lack of choice.
"Fundamentally, there's a lack of competition," says Mitchell. "The reason cities step into this space is often because we don't believe the private sector is capable of resolving that lack of competition on its own."
Some cities and local governments have had difficulty keeping the community Internet provider model afloat. Libertarians and conservatives tend to oppose it as something government shouldn't be involved in. Yet there are success stories, such as Chattanooga, Tennessee, where citizens access a city-owned fiber optic network for less than $70 a month.
There's a large cluster of nonprofit networks in southwestern Virginia and a few more in the upper Shenandoah Valley, but not everyone thinks they should be there. Ryan Radia, associate director of technology studies with the Competitive Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., cites Pew Research statistics which claim one in four Americans don't have broadband at home - because they don't want it.
"A non-trivial portion of Americans, especially in some of the cities where we see these networks, don't value broadband," says Radia. "I am troubled by the idea of the government providing it."
Mitchell, on the other hand, says community broadband networks are important because they go up against a handful of companies with a stranglehold on the business. He says in his hometown of St. Paul, Minnesota, he - or anyone else - would have a difficult time competing with Comcast to provide Internet access.
"I'd probably need to raise about $200 million to build a network that would compete with them," says Mitchell. "But as soon as I did that, Comcast would cut its rates significantly, and people - being very price-sensitive - would decide not to go with my new, faster, better service."
Mitchell says community networks are often demonized by big cable and telephone companies for "failing" when they don't create profits in the first three years - a nearly impossible standard. But he notes the point of community-based Internet is to provide a service first, not make a profit. Mitchell adds few would demand local governments turn a "profit" on roads they manage within three years of building them.
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Lawmakers in Olympia this session moved to add more protections for consumers against predatory loans.
Washington state lawmakers passed Senate Bill 6025 unanimously in both chambers, closing a loophole companies were using to evade caps on the amount of interest charged on loans.
Sam Leonard, an attorney in Seattle, said tech companies providing financial services such as loans would charter out of state banks, especially in Utah, where lenders can charge unlimited interest rates.
"These fintech lenders a lot of times will charge 150, 200% interest on relatively small dollar loans, $3,000, $5,000 and the like," Leonard explained.
Washington state has a set of protections called the Consumer Loan Act to shield people from predatory loans. Leonard said capping interest rates at the federal level would help people across the country.
However, he emphasized the bill goes a long way to increase protections for Washingtonians.
"Not a lot of states at this time have passed similar legislation," Leonard pointed out. "Washington is out in front of the curve with regard to protecting low-income Washingtonians or other Washingtonians that might enter into these predatory loan products."
Leonard added the issue with predatory loans is they keep people in continuous debt cycles.
"Loan products like these essentially strip low-income individuals' ability to improve their economic situation," Leonard noted.
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While there's snow in the immediate forecast, the spring storm season has arrived in Minnesota and state officials said with complaints related to homeowner insurance claims on the rise, it is important to monitor changes in policies.
The Minnesota Commerce Department said complaints from policyholders, largely stemming from their claims being denied, have more than doubled since 2020.
Julia Dreier, deputy commissioner of insurance for the Minnesota Department of Commerce, said under a changing climate, the nation is seeing plenty of extreme weather events resulting in wind and hail damage, and insurance companies are adjusting to what's happening.
"Insurance costs are going to increase," Dreier pointed out. "We do want to make sure that Minnesotans are prepared."
As some carriers narrow what is covered or require higher deductibles, Dreier urged consumers to carefully review their policy when it is up for renewal, to avoid surprises when they have to file a claim. The department acknowledged changes can slip under the radar when consumers rely on paperless statements sent via email, or with busy schedules preventing them from reading all the fine print in documents they receive.
The department emphasized it is a complicated process in getting complaints resolved, noting some can be partially reversed in favor of the homeowner. Dreier noted they work closely with the industry to make sure a company's actions are within the letter of the law.
"One of our jobs is to make sure that insurance companies aren't doing something unethical when they're submitting their policy forms to us and their rates to us for review," Dreier added.
The department does have a new video on its YouTube channel, which offers more details on how to better prepare yourself ahead of any future claims, including knowing whether your policy offers flood protection and assessing the value of items in your home.
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Wisconsin has announced a big development in trying to establish more digital equity around the state.
Gov. Tony Evers and the Public Service Commission say Wisconsin's blueprint for digital equity has been accepted by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
That means the state is eligible for up to $30 million to implement its approach over the next five years.
Martha Cranley - state director for AARP Wisconsin - called it a robust plan, noting that older populations continue to face challenges in being connected to the digital world.
"We know that at least 15% of people 50-plus in Wisconsin are not connected," said Cranley, "either because the wires simply don't come to their house, or they don't have a device, or they don't know how to use it."
Cranley said the lack of connection is especially concerning in rural areas across northern Wisconsin, where aging communities have limited resources.
Stakeholders also note an infusion of new aid is helpful with the federal government's Affordable Connectivity Program - which provides discounts on monthly internet bills for eligible households - in danger of running out of money.
Cranley said the state's plan came together following extensive public outreach, in which her organization helped convey the need for improved internet access for those 50 and older.
"They certainly heard from older people about how important this is to connect to their doctor," said Cranley, "and to connect to government services, and frankly, find employment."
Overall, Evers says the plan's federal approval means more than 410,000 homes and businesses will be better positioned to be connected to new or improved high-speed internet service.
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