The Institute for Policy Innovation, a non-profit public policy organization based in Dallas, Texas is calling on the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to reject any plans to fund municipal broadband networks when its meet this week to discuss the stimulus spending. According to a new report authored by IPI senior fellow Barry M. Aarons, municipal broadband has been plagued by failure nearly every time it has been attempted, and at great cost to taxpayers.
In the report, entitled “We Told You So: Continue to Say No to Municipal Broadband Networks,” Aarons writes: “In 2004, we cautioned governments to be careful not to sponsor communications ventures like municipal broadband networks, and in particular, local Wi-Fi Projects… time and experience have proven us correct.”
IPI notes that municipal broadband systems have been expensive government failures in cities including, but not limited to, Philadelphia, Chicago, Portland and Orlando.
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