Initially introduced in 1997 and re-introduced in 2001 by Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer, The Give the Fans a Chance Act would forbid leagues from prohibiting community ownership. If a professional sports league ignores this provision, it will lose its sports broadcast antitrust exemption.… Read More
San Diego prohibits stores over 90,000 square feet that devote more than 10 percent of their floor area to groceries. Several cities in California and Arizona have adopted similar ordinances in recent years. … Read More
To maintain a diversity of small-scale, neighborhood-serving businesses, San Francisco prohibits stores over 4,000 square feet in several of its neighborhood commercial districts. … Read More
Taos prohibits stores that exceed 80,000 square feet and requires developers to obtain a special permit to build stores over 30,000 square feet. To receive a permit, developments must meet specific criteria and comply with the town’s architectural and design standards. … Read More
In 2009 a vigorous debate is taking place about the best way to reduce carbon emissions. There are two leading proposals: a carbon cap and emissions auction with revenue returned to Americans as a dividend, and a carbon tax with revenue returned to Americans in the form of lower taxes or a dividend. In the mid 1990s Minnesota debated a carbon tax and dividend bill designed by ILSR. Several studies were done about the impact on various sectors of such a policy. … Read More
Prior to June 2007, a Vermont town that wanted to create a community broadband network would have to amend the town charter and get it approved by the Vermont Legislature to gain the necessary authority to do so. Public Act 79 of 2007 changed that, granting broad authority to communities to create their own networks.
The national telecommunications companies like Comcast and Verizon had largely ignored Vermont, like other upper New England states. These companies invested little in the low density communities – preferring to invest where they could maximize profits. Realizing the future required fast broadband networks, the Vermont Legislature and Governor Douglas partnered, forming an overwhelming majority to pass legislature to encourage broadband investment.… Read More
Some networks are purely open access, as in UTOPIA, where the network owner provides no services (leaving the provision of services to multiple third parties). Burlington, Vermont (see our Case Study and Fact Sheet) has taken a different approach.
In its fiber-to-the-home network, Burlington Telecom (a city department), offers the full triple play of television, phone, and fast Internet services. But it has also committed to making the network available to competitors – at the same wholesale rate it charges itself internally. … Read More
On purchases over $5,000, the city of Madison, Wisconsin, grants local businesses a 1% price preference on bids and a 5% point preference on RFPs (request for proposal). … Read More
On contracts of $100,000 or less, the city of Los Angeles grants a 10% preference to small, local businesses. A small, local business is defined as one that is independently owned and operated, located in the county of Los Angeles, and not "dominant in its field of operations." Los Angeles County also grants small, local businesses a 5% preference on county contracts. … Read More