Wayne Y. Hoskisson
From WikTOPIA
Here are the responses to candidate questions from Wayne Y. Hoskisson.
Contents |
2008 Campaign for State House 55
Candidate Responses
- Do you generally support or oppose projects like UTOPIA and iProvo?
Response:"I live in Moab, Utah, so I am only generally aware of UTOPIA and iProvo. I support the concept of UTOPIA which I understand to be program to make high speed internet access available to communities in Utah. I am also in favor of iProvo which I understand is a comprehensive connectivity service that would provide internet, phone and television service through a single provider. I worry most about keeping internet and web content out of the control out of the hands of providers."
- What is the basis for your support or opposition?
Response:"I support any means to make the internet and web readily accessible to the largest number of people at the lowest cost."
- Is your support or opposition based on the general concept or specific implementations used in UTOPIA and/or iProvo?
Response:"I have not followed either program closely since neither is available in Moab. I do understand that iProvo is struggling because of lower subscription rates than anticipated and slower rate of providing access. I think making access to every home reasonable in terms of expense should be a priority for any connectivity including internet and telephone. I am less concerned about television. I would actually prefer to see television broadcast in traditional form and made available through out Utah. We currently have no broadcast TV in Moab. Since I don’t have a TV I am not sure how much of a priority I would give it."
- What is your position on the regulation of incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) such as Qwest?
Response:"ILECs should be regulated. They should also be required to provide use of their lines to other internet providers. I think we should find ways to assure local ISPs such as XMISSION can continue to provide service. I think monopolies should be avoided."
- What is your position on the regulation of incumbent cable companies such as Comcast?
Response:"I think all companies that provide a service such as phone, internet access or television should be regulated. What most concerns me now is the future of the 700 megahertz radio frequencies just auctioned off to Verizen and AT&T. I think that this band width should be open and accessible to other carriers of internet services."
- What role, if any, should the federal government play in allegations of unfair business practices leveled at incumbent carriers such as Qwest and Comcast?
Response:"Monopolies are the cancer of capitalism. They need to be controlled. Large national and international corporations generally wield too much power. They use publicly owned resources and thus have an obligation to provide services that benefit communities and not just the stock price or returns of corporations."
- What proposals or concepts do you support to bring better broadband access to rurals Utahns?
Response:"Currently I use Verizen Broadband Access for internet and web access. I have no idea if the price represents a reasonable return on their investment. DSL cost me nearly as much as the Verizen access. Verizen provides the advantage that it works every where I travel except remote portions of the state that do not have cell coverage. I also travel around the west and occasionally to other regions of the country. Thus I always have access available. I would like to see providers of such services regulated and more generally available.
If Verizen and ATT now have access to 700 mghtz radio frequencies they should be required to expand that to rural communities and be regulated like ILECs including open networks."
- What proposals or concepts do you support to improve average broadband speeds to be better competitive on an international basis?
Response:"I am no knowledgeable enough to give a good answer to this question."
- What proposals or concepts do you support to increase competitive options for Internet, television and telephone services?
Response:"I have not thought about this. I am a consumer and my problem is finding reasonably reliable service at a reasonable price. In Moab we do have a large number of WiFi hotspots so I could theoretically gain internet access by walking 5 to 10 minutes from my home.
I would like to see communities provide a large number of WiFi hotspots so that community members could have ready access with minimal effort. I do not think small rural communities should be required to provide 24/7 access to individual homes.
For personal purposes I use a cell phone exclusively. I dropped my landline when I was away from home so much that people had less than a 50/50 chance of getting me via phone. It is also easy to turn the phone off.
I am less concerned about providing television access."
- Do you have any other related comments you would like to add?
Response:"I think information should be treated as we treat other public utilities such as water, electricity, sewage, natural gas and should be provided for by regulation of corporations or by local governments. We still do this through maintaining public libraries. But he availability of information is so pervasive now that we need a new way of providing access. Libraries can provide some of that through computers but that is expensive and not terribly efficient. Still I would like to see every library in Utah provide access by computer and WiFi hotspot."
FreeUTOPIA Position on Candidate
Positive
This candidate is supportive of open networks including UTOPIA and supports open access on the existing telephone system. As a consumer in a rural market, he is also keenly aware of the difficulties in finding reasonably priced and competitive services for broadband. This is reflected in the candidate's position that the monopolies currently held by incumbents are damaging to the market and that their use of public resources is what necessitates the additional regulation.
Mixed
N/A
Negative
N/A
Overall Rating
Positive (5/5). This candidate would most assuredly propose and support sound broadband policy.
