Cable Spent Big Against Muni Broadband in Fort Collins
Cable companies and others spent more than $900,000 to oppose municipal broadband in last month's election in Fort Collins, Colorado, election documents show. Citizens voted to authorize up to $150 million in debt for a network, 57 percent in favor…
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(see 1711080024). Campaign finance data including a report released last week showed the Colorado Cable Telecommunications Association contributing $816,000 and Citizens for a Sustainable Economy giving $85,000 to “Priorities First Fort Collins,” which opposed the muni network. The group supporting the network spent about $15,000. Comcast and CenturyLink said they opposed the initiative because they didn’t believe taxpayer dollars should subsidize competitors and because muni broadband risks are high. The Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a muni broadband backer, blogged Saturday on the documents.