Answers: Broadband Industry

President Barack Obama wants to encourage cities to form public utilities to provide high-speed Internet service, much like Cedar Falls Utilities. Mediacom has criticized that plan as giving government-run companies an unfair advantage over private Internet providers. What role does the government play in establishing Internet service and increasing competition in the broadband industry?

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' Glenn C.: The government should stay out of it - period.

' Mike I.: If you like your Internet service, you can keep your Internet service ...

' Angel J.: It is called infrastructure

' Becky H.: Government should play zero role in this, every time they get involved it becomes a tangled cluster.

' Mike A.: None ... the govt. should not have any control of businesses. They can't even run themselves without making a mess.

' Steve G.: No monopoly

' Jon C.: Hasn't the government screwed up enough things?

' Michele B.: Iowa needs better Internet services! If you didn't have government, this country would be upside down! Maybe the government can lower the services by competition!

' Chris B.: No government involvement in the Internet

' Craig W.: The government should stay out of it.

' Packy P.: I was promised lighting fast Internet and it's actually slower than average dial-up and then was told sorry that's not available in your area after it was hooked up

' Yeroc R.: We've had broadband for quite sometime. Nothing new.

' James A.: Zero control, for the factors of they would make lawyer-speak the normal for all contracts. Secondly, if they don't like the way things are talked about they can censor everyone by shutting it off!

' Scott W.: All they need to do it make so the speed you pay for you get and lower the cost that's it. Doesn't need to be taxed.

' Sharm K.: No role. They should even reduce their current role.

' Ray W.: NONE! Let markets drive business.

' Jan S.: Government should stay out of it!

' Dave B.: Grant licenses and access to support enterprise and competition.

' Rob G.: All cities should be an ISP utility. same goes for cable TV.

' Larry C.: When left to private industry it will only go where there is money to be made and thinly populated areas will be left without. Therefore, it will be up to government to make it available in those areas.

' Denise L.: I think the government should stay out of it. But, I do believe there should be a more competitive market!

' Christene R.: With all that is wrong with the world this is the least thing to worry about.

' Alicia P.: The government needs to concentrate on people who need food, shelter and care.

' Charles V.: They need to regulate the prices in contrast with the rest of the world. Here in Iowa, we get shafted because the companies don't want to upgrade their infrastructure.

' Carrie R.: none, it's not the government's job.

' Matt G.: Regulate the Internet like the phone companies so it can be treated as a necessary utility.

' Paul S.: At the very least, there needs to be truth in advertising about speeds. You can't even advertise on a lottery ticket that you can win 'up to $25 million” if no one can actually win $25 million. Even within the existing regulatory structure, this should be an absolute slam dunk.

' Erin M.: Aren't there better topics and issues to discuss than worry about the Internet??

' Paul S.: Considering we and thousands of other Iowans have a small Internet business operating in our home, I respectfully disagree.

' Terry S.: Make the lines public property and allow any company to offer access across them.

' Melissa C.: None but Internet connection speeds in Iowa are a joke. Slowest I have ever used in my life.

' Ann P,: No role whatsoever. They just muck up everything as it is.

' Amy C.: None!!