MYTH: Municipal communications utilities are a bad idea

FACT: 100 years later, it's the same song with a different singer.

“Municipal Ownership Costly And Dangerous”
“Municipal Ownership Uneconomic”
“Why Municipal Service Is Expensive”
“Municipal Ownership Is Always A Failure”

Do these statements sound familiar? Surprise…they aren’t the headlines in the latest mass-mailing by the “Project Taxpayer Protection Committee” or the “Citizens for Common Sense Solutions” and their mega-communications company supporters.

These words were written 100 years ago on the topic of municipal ELECTRIC utilities by people who didn’t want to see public power ownership.

A century of experience tells us that these claims were not true. Over 2,000 municipal electric utilities exist today, serving their communities with low-cost power and assistance for community development.

Just like 100 years ago, some communities are taking the opportunity to invest in their own technology future. A century ago, it was electricity that was the “next big thing”. Community leaders at the turn of the last century felt that their communities would suffer if they didn’t have access to affordable electricity for homes, businesses, and industry.
The large electric companies of 1905 fought those efforts vigorously.

Today, the “next big thing” is advanced telecommunication services. Again, the big private companies don’t want citizens to do it for themselves because it means competition and lower profits. And just like 100 years ago, community leaders believe that their communities will be left behind if they don’t have affordable access to communications services.

The times have changed, but the municipal philosophy has not. The past 100 years have proven that municipal electric systems were a wise investment for citizens in the early 20th century.