It’s refreshing to see Rep. Marilyn Avila express some concern about the lack of broadband.
Avila was praised by N&O executive editor John Drescher in her defense of requiring local governments buy newspaper space for their legal notices:
“Are our citizens going to have to bookmark every website for every department in every division and check it every day to figure out what we’re up to down here?” she asked, adding that many residents don’t have Internet access.
Drescher called Avila a “thoughtful and respected” legislator and deemed the speech “stirring.” I suppose you look for your allies wherever you can find them.
Avila did more to expand the digital divide than any other legislator with her sponsorship of HB 129, the so-called “Level Playing Field” law. All it took was a fat check from Time Warner Cable and she said whatever they told her to. Time Warner trotted Avila out again to pretend it cared about fast broadband.
“Time Warner Cable has been a valued business partner for the state of North Carolina and is committed to seeing the state succeed,” said North Carolina Representative Marilyn Avila. “The additional infrastructure investment Time Warner Cable proposes will position our region with even more broadband capabilities that can lead to educational and economic growth.”
So, yeah. Avila blocked municipal broadband in return for Time Warner moolah, putting real broadband out of the reach of anyone other than deep-pocketed citizens. Forgive me if I don’t take her newfound concern seriously.