A Harvard study found that, in 27 communities and cities with both private and city owned internet, the municipal broadband was almost always cheaper.
In the wake of the FCC's repeal of net neutrality and shortly after news that Comcast, Cox, and other broadband providers will be raising rates around the country, a new study shows that cities are providing cheaper broadband than their private counterparts are.
The Harvard study, which looked at 27 communities, is likely to make for-profit broadband providers squirm. The results were definitive. "In nearly every case, the community-own broadband was cheaper -- up to 50% cheaper -- and had more consistent, predictable pricing," Clive thompson reports for Boing Boing. Predictable pricing means that, instead of offering introductory rates and then raising the prices after customers are locked into a service, community broadband providers generally offered consistent pricing.
Suggesting more cities might be wise to follow the example of Fort Collins, Colorado and create their own service.
FULL STORY: Study finds municipal broadband is up to 50% cheaper than telcos
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research