New Survey Finds Georgia Voters Want Updated Telecom Laws

February 8, 2010 written by John Watson

Citizens for a Digital Future (CDF) recently conducted a study with Insider Advantage in an effort to gauge the perspective of the Georgia voters on the current state of telecom in Georgia.  The results show that Georgians prefer a telecom marketplace where all companies are on an even playing field.

Half of Georgians want all companies to be free of regulation and almost two-thirds (65%) of those surveyed said they opposed government regulation and financial involvement of private business.

The study found that 58% of respondents are “somewhat against” or “against” current telecom regulations that require the customers of larger phone companies to pay a subsidy to smaller phone companies to cover the difference in the cost of instate long distance calls made by the customers of these smaller companies.  Additionally, the survey found that 60% of Georgia voters surveyed favored legislation that would reduce, over time, the amount paid by customers of larger phone companies to subsidize both in-state long distance and basic telephone service to customers of smaller phone companies.

By modernizing the current laws to gradually end these unfair practices over time, Georgia lawmakers can pass legislation that will spark investment by companies in broadband and new technologies.  The result could be a Georgia that continues to lead in broadband advancement.

For a brief snapshot of the poll numbers, go here.