Red Bank TV

There are two audiences I try to keep in mind as I post to this blog in my inelegant Jersey Shore writing style. 

1. The residents, business owners and local officials in Red Bank, New Jersey.  The town that I call home.
2. People beyond Red Bank who have concerns about emerging telecommunications issues and are looking for ways to do something about those issues.

To those of you from beyond Red Bank let me try to summarize my message to you:

If you are concerned about keeping the internet a level playing field, aka Net Neutrality, then talk to your neighbors, fellow community business owners and local political officials about your concerns.  The best way for big picture issues to gain traction is to start at the local, grass roots, level.

You may be in favor of federal legislation and you may sign big internet petitions but I think the best way to get you concerns heard is by starting at the local level.  The telcos need to start hearing from the local communities that they might not be welcome if they don’t change their business practices.

Right now in high profile communities all across the country Verizon and AT&T are applying for local cable TV franchises.  That means there are public hearings taking place, probably in a town near you, at which you can voice your concerns.  If enough people start asking questions at a local level then the telcos will start to hear those questions in business terms; it could signal to them that the market has concerns and it could cost us money if we don’t listen to those concerns.

There is legislation working its way up through state and federal levels of government that may change the landscape and remove the need for these local hearings.  The telcos will then be able to apply for State or National cable TV franchises.  At the hearings that will go along with those franchise applications there will be heavy reliance on precedent established at the local level.  If the question of Net Neutrality does not come up at the local hearings then how can it be brought up at the national level?  The telcos will say: “These issues were never brought up in the communities that approved our cable franchises, why should Washington tell local communities how to do their business?” and they will be right.

So, bring up these issues in your town.  Start a blog, let us know about it, write a letter to your local newspaper, contact your local town officials and attend the telco Dog and Pony show when it comes to town and ask questions.  Act Locally.