Seneker 1
Gabe Seneker
Mrs. Parrigon
ENG II
8 Feb. 2019
The Encouragement of Municipal Networks
Municipal networks have been a talking point among taxpayers and city officials for
many years. The term “municipal network” essentially means the use of taxpayer money to fund
a city wide, governmentally owned network that acts as a separate Internet Service Provider or
ISP. Municipal networks can provide many benefits to a town, especially if they are in a rural
area. However, they can also strike some criticism among people for using taxpayer funds. The
use of municipal network access should be encouraged because of its ability to bring internet
access to underserved areas and vastly cheaper prices.
Municipal network access should be encouraged because of the ability to bring
underserved areas internet access. In the article “Rural communities see big returns with
broadband access, but roadblocks persist,” Phil McCausland discusses the struggle for small
towns to gain municipal networks. McCausland writes, “The economic upside of internet access
is being pushed by rural broadband advocates across the country who say that there isn’t enough
being done to connect rural communities. Building out the necessary infrastructure, they argue,
could function as an economic and informational driver for some of the country’s most cashstrapped regions.” McCausland explains how municipal networks can help bring access to
underserved areas. He explains that with municipal networks, regions that usually are overlooked
can now get access to the internet. Municipal networks can also serve as an informational driver
for the cash-strapped regions, encouraging large ISPs to lower their prices in certain areas. While
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municipal networks can bring rural areas internet access, they can also lower monthly prices
dramatically.
Vastly cheaper prices are another reason why the use of municipal broadband is
encouraged. Jon Brodkin writes an article titled “City-owned Internet services offer cheaper and
more transparent pricing,” which shows the statistics of why city owned networks are a better
and cheaper route than private companies. Brodkin writes, “In communities where municipal
prices were lower than those charged by private ISPs, prices from municipal ISPs ‘were between
2.9 percent and 50 percent less than the lowest-cost such service offered by a private provider (or
providers) in that market,’ the study said.” Brodkin’s statistics explain why municipal networks
are usually cheaper than their private company owned counterparts. He compares the lowest cost
service provided by the private companies with the regular prices from municipal ISPs. He found
that municipal networks were at least 2.9 to 50 percent less than the lowest cost provided by the
private companies. This proves that municipal networks are usually much cheaper than privately
owned companies. Municipal networks are a great way to bring communities internet access, but
some argue that municipal networks pose a threat to other ISPs and the community.
Opponents argue that municipal networks create an unfair advantage in the competitive
market. An article titled “Why a Tennessee town has the fastest internet” explains how municipal
networks have an unfair advantage over other ISPs. The article states, “The companies argue that
government-supported entities have an inherent competitive advantage over private businesses
when they succeed and are a drain on government coffers when they fail” (Why a Tennessee
town has the fastest internet). There are a couple of advantages that municipal networks have,
one being the pricing of the service. Municipal networks have an unfair advantage in the pricing
of their service compared to other ISPs. This affects the service of the ISPs when more people
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subscribe to municipal networks rather than their own. Municipal networks also can sap lots of
money away from government funds. Regardless, municipal networks are very helpful to a town
when they succeed. An article titled “Muni Networks 101: What You Need to Know About
Municipal Broadband Networks,” explains important information on the background of
municipal networks. The article states, “They believe once municipalities have the power to
make operational decisions, they can make infrastructure improvements and upgrades with the
best interest of the specific community in mind, instead of the profit-motive behind large ISP
corporations” (Muni Networks 101: What You Need to Know About Municipal Broadband
Networks). Municipal networks have a better advantage in a town than typical ISPs. They make
decisions based on what is best for the community that they live in such as network speed and
type. This ends up making a lot more people happier than the profit motive that many large ISPs
have in the same area. While municipal networks can be flexible to the community that they are
in, money spent on this type of network could be spent on other things in the community as well.
Money spent on municipal broadband projects could be spent elsewhere to help benefit
the residents of a town. Katie Mcauliffe writes an article titled “The false promise of 'municipal
broadband' networks,” which explains why municipal networks should be discouraged.
Mcauliffe writes, “At a time when most communities face huge unmet needs for roads, bridges,
water, and electric systems, spending scarce taxpayer dollars on government Internet might be
good PR, but it seems like risky economics.” Mcauliffe explains her point of view on why
municipal networks are bad. She explains how municipal networks steal taxpayer money from
other causes, such as bridges, water, roads, and electrical systems. This causes the more
important actions to be delayed. Regardless, municipal networks attract more businesses which
can produce millions of dollars in savings. An article titled “Municipal Networks and Economic
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Development” gives insight on why taxpayer money should be spent on municipal networking
projects. The article states, “Municipal networks create jobs by ensuring businesses have
fast...and reliable Internet access...These networks improve the productivity of existing
businesses ...and represent long term social investments in the form of better-connected schools
and libraries. They also create millions of dollars in savings that can be reinvested into local
economies” (Municipal Networks and Economic Development). Municipal networks can attract
more business to the city or town that it resides in. This can create more jobs, which in turn,
improves the economy. Municipal networks can also strengthen local housing markets and
provide better connected schools and libraries. This can lead to millions of dollars in savings that
can be used on improving local economies.
For its ability to bring internet to underserved areas and cheaper prices, the use of
municipal networks should be increased. One main advantage that municipal networks have over
traditional ISPs is the ability to charge cheaper prices for the service. Municipal networks also
have the ability to bring internet access to underserved, cash strapped regions. While these are
good advantages against private ISPs, opponents argue that it introduces an unfair competition
into the marketplace. Opponents also argue that money spent on these types of projects could be
spent elsewhere to a communities’ benefit. Regardless, municipal networks will always be a
main talking point in the media. With everything converting over to an online based society,
municipal networks can help everyone stay connected regardless of the area or amount of money
that is made.
Works Cited
Brodkin, Jon. “City-owned Internet services offer cheaper and more transparent pricing.”
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ArsTechnica, WIRED Media Group, 15 Jan. 2018, arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/01/
city-owned-internet-services-offer-cheaper-and-more-transparent-pricing/. Accessed 17
Jan. 2019.
Mcauliffe, Katie. “The false promise of 'municipal broadband' networks.” The Hill, Capitol Hill
Publishing, 23 June 2017, thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/technology/339232-the-false-pr
omise-of-municipal-broadband-networks. Accessed 19 Jan. 2019.
McCausland, Phil. “Rural communities see big returns with broadband access, but roadblocks
persist.” NBC News, NBC Universal, 11 June 2018, www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news
/rural-communities-see-big-returns-broadband-access-roadblocks-persist-n881731.
Accessed 17 Jan. 2019.
“Municipal Networks and Economic Development.” Muni Networks, Institute for Local
Self-Reliance, n.d. muninetworks.org/content/municipal-networks-and-economic-develo
pment. Accessed 19 Jan. 2019.
‘Muni Networks 101: What You Need to Know About Municipal Broadband Networks.”
TeleQuality Communications, 07 Nov. 2017, www.telequality.com/blog/2017/11/3/muninetworks-101-what-you-need-to-know-about-municipal-broadband-networks. Accessed
18 Jan. 2019.
“Why a Tennessee town has the fastest internet.” BBC, 02 Sept. 2014, www.bbc.com/news/blog
s-echochambers-29038650. Accessed 18 Jan. 2019.
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English II Argumentative Research Paper Rubric
Writing Mechanics/Style Choices:
● Grammar (5) (this includes consistent present tense verbs) (-2)
● Punctuation (5) (-2)
● Capitalization (5) +
● Spelling (5) +
● Writing is fluent, clear, and specific (5) +
● Introducer/parenthetical citation formatting (6) (-3)
Formatting:
● MLA format header, page numbers, and centered title (5)
● Double-spaced Times New Roman, 12 font, 1 inch margins (5)
___24___/31
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●
Essay is at least 2 ½ pages, no longer than 4 pages (5)
___15___/15
Introduction:
● Background information and reason why the topic is worthwhile (5)
● Ends with a thesis statement that is a clear claim. Underline the thesis
(5)
___10___/10
Body Paragraphs:
● Topic sentences at the beginning of each body paragraph stem from
the thesis statement (4)
● Body paragraphs contain evidence from the articles to support that
paragraph’s claims. The claim paragraphs will have one piece of
evidence each, and the counterclaim paragraphs will have two pieces
of evidence each. (6)
● Evidence comes from appropriate locations: (4)
○ Two from news sources
○ One from online newspaper/magazine
○ One from any reputable source
● All pieces of evidence are preceded by a background information
sentence that gives context for the evidence (6)
● All pieces of evidence are followed by an evidence explanation
sentence that explains how the evidence meets the claim,
counterclaim, or refutation (6)
● The use of transitions makes the connections between paragraphs
and sentences clear (6)
Conclusion:
● Start with a rephrased version of the thesis statement. (5)
● Conclusion effectively summarizes the body paragraphs without
introducing new information (5)
● Leaves the reader with a final thought of what could happen if what
has been argued isn’t followed or acted upon (5)
___32___/32
__15___/15
Use of Research/Works Cited:
● Works Cited page is formatted correctly (8) (-2)
● Use of at least 4 different credible sources (4)
__10___/12
Total
92%
__106____/115
RA score 112/115 97%
Comments: Gabe, great work on your essay. I thought you chose an interesting topic, and to be
honest, it was one I didn’t have a lot of prior knowledge about, so I learned something new. I
thought you chose strong evidence to back up your claims and counterclaims, and overall, it
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was a well-put together essay. I did notice where you left off some parenthetical citations, but
that was your biggest error. You had some small grammatical and punctuation errors, but
nothing major. Great work on this, Gabe.