Free Wireless, You Knew It Couldn't Go On Forever

A few months ago, we were pleased to discuss how one city, Philadelphia, was creating a wireless ubiquity for its citizens. Free...No cost to the citizens to build it...and no cost to use it...initially. 

Such a great idea! This type of infrastructure is criticial to communities and their efforts to create jobs and attract new entrepreneurial activity. And we saluted the city of Philadelphia in its attempts to provide this valuable job-generating asset for its citizens.

But generosity for a democracy's citizens never goes unpunished...Or as the saying goes no good deeds goes unpunished...

In today's NY TIMES is an article that reports that VERIZON is actively lobbying the Pennsylvania legislature to give wireless providers the "right of first refusal" to build a wireless network within 14 months for a municipality otherwise the municipal government can do so.

So, in our free-market and with this proposal, a wireless provider can continue to ignore a local market's need for wireless connectivity until such time as the citizens of that market take matters in their own hand to build their own network...at which point the wireless provider that's been ignoring their needs must then be asked given the right of first refusal...The same right they've been refusing to the point that it forced the hand  of the local citizens.

It seems large corporations believe in free-market principals as long as it doesn't apply to them.