Republican in La. PSC Election Says He Won't Tax Internet
Government shouldn’t tax the internet or compete with private internet providers, a Republican candidate for the Louisiana Public Service Commission told us. “However, I'm open to government providing incentives for businesses to provide service to underserved or rural areas,” emailed…
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the candidate Reldon Owens, Diamond B Construction director-external relations. The GOP-controlled Louisiana PSC is the only commission where power may change hands in this year’s elections, and Owens is running against a Democrat and another Republican for the open seat (see 1610240020). Tuesday is the primary, with the top two facing off in a Dec. 10 run-off election unless one candidate wins at least half of the vote this week. While a campaign priority for Democrat Mary Werner is spreading affordable broadband across the state, Owens noted that the PSC doesn’t regulate the internet. “Those are interstate issues and are governed by the FCC,” he said. “The most the PSC could do is assist other state organizations in their efforts on the internet as well as assert influence to the providers of those services.”