AT&T, Verizon, Comcast and Windstream have accepted state and federal funding to expand DSL to rural homes several DECADES in a row, yet they have continually used that funding to expand their respective core networks within larger cities.  So even though my upscale community of 100+ homes would order top-end bundles and be instantly profitable for these providers, they continue to push their own agendas and misappropriate the funds.  

Even worse, these companies routinely lie to customers when marketing their services, claiming that Internet will be available "really, really soon" if we purchase their TV and phone bundles.  This is beyond unacceptable.

In the 21st century, broadband services should no longer be considered a luxury item since they are required to apply for jobs, pay bills and keep up with the world around us.  My community cannot force the FCC to regulate how these government funds are used through our local utilities, nor can we intervene at the state or local levels.  This is insanity...over two hundred billion dollars have been misused by telcom companies and they ultimately stole that money from the American People.

Why does this happen?  Because once the major internet providers blanket the big cities with the newest technology, something else comes along and they start in the same areas all over again.  This has happened for decades and for rural communities, that means we will probably NEVER see affordable Internet services without some type of intervention.

While this petiton is being started by a small community on the outskirts of Spartanburg, SC, this is a huge national issue for milions of Americans living in the suburbs and beyond.  So when you sign this petition and pass it along to your friends, know that you're doing this for all of the people in your life that are regularly lied to and taken advantage of by their local phone/internet utilities.  

This rampant abuse has to stop, and our tax dollars cannot continue to be given away to companies that could care less about state/federal laws and actual customer service.  Because even though these companies use shady tactics to trick us, it is ultimately our state and federal government's fault for allowing it to happen in the first place.  Just look at the subsidies they receive...you'll be absolutely shocked.  The government has already paid your local provider in the neighborhood of $2,000 to get you ultra-fast fiber optic Internet service...and this may be the biggest scam in the history of the United States.  Somehow though, the governmnet is still paying out additional subsidies with absolutely zero oversight to ensure that they never actually make it to rural communities.

This is especially important right now with the net neutrality conversation taking place, so I am counting on you to turn this into a big deal.  Because let's face it...we all deserve great broadband services.  So sign this petition, share it with everyone you know, and let's tell our government and the nation's Internet providers that we're tired of being lied to and taken advantage of.  

Thanks in advance for all of your help!