Re:Google Fiber coming to Austin
by Nrsolis on Sunday April 07, 2013 @12:03PM
(#5507601)
Surely you realize that local governments have been doing this in all sorts of industries.
The give property tax abatements to WalMart or sales tax abatements for equipment deployed in a data center within their borders. This is nothing new.
And like someone else mentioned, TWC and Comcast have had de-facto monopolies for the past 20-30 years. Cable companies are bound by a franchise agreement with the city. One of the things they agree to in that agreement is that they have non-exclusive access to the market via the public right-of-way.
Also consider that one of the things cities will do is try to get ANYTHING that will bring jobs and industry/investment to their community. Growing the tax base is a prime directive of any city.
The give property tax abatements to WalMart or sales tax abatements for equipment deployed in a data center within their borders. This is nothing new.
And like someone else mentioned, TWC and Comcast have had de-facto monopolies for the past 20-30 years. Cable companies are bound by a franchise agreement with the city. One of the things they agree to in that agreement is that they have non-exclusive access to the market via the public right-of-way.
Also consider that one of the things cities will do is try to get ANYTHING that will bring jobs and industry/investment to their community. Growing the tax base is a prime directive of any city.