Leaders of four citizen groups representing “thousands of conservatives in Cleveland and Bradley County” have sent a letter to the City of Cleveland and its utility department, Cleveland Utilities, calling for the city’s proposed multi-million dollar broadband internet service plan to be approved by a referendum of the voters.
Cleveland and Cleveland Utilities have proposed a government-owned broadband network (GON), estimated to cost $72 million. Through the GON project, Cleveland Utilities would implement “smart meter” technology across Bradley County, which activists have previously argued would result in “intrusive government thermostat tampering and rolling blackouts in California.”
On Wednesday March 8th, Cleveland Utilities held a hearing for members of the public to speak on the proposed GON project, however, the activists claim that the meeting being held on a Wednesday was a “cynical attempt to limit public input,” as those are the days when a majority of citizens in Bradley County attend church.
“The decision to hold this meeting on a Wednesday appeared to be a cynical attempt to limit public input on this expensive, unnecessary project by forcing people to choose between their faith and their civic involvement,” the activist groups argued.
The letter goes on to argue that the GON project is a “want” of government bureaucrats and not a community “need,” citing the current 99 percent of Cleveland residents that already have access to broadband internet through multiple different private providers.
“We ask you to consider doing the right thing and letting the ratepayers of Cleveland Utilities and the taxpayers of this city make this decision in the voting booth,” the letter continues. “Absent a referendum, it is incumbent on city government to provide people a true opportunity to make their voice heard on this controversial subject without having to skip church or find out last minute due to lack of publicity.”
“Cleveland City government should abandon this reckless plan that duplicates services already provided to residents by the private sector. This GON will grow the size of local government without adding any benefit for its citizens. If you are going to spend ratepayer funds and saddle taxpayers with more debt, you at least owe them the courtesy of a transparent, open public process to make sure their opposition is heard,” the letter concludes.
The letter was signed by Dan Rawls, founder of Bradley Constitutionalists; Glenda Pappu, organizer for the Tennessee Neighbors for Liberty; Ted Gleason, treasurer for Advocates for Bradley County; and Angie Kitchen, State Coordinator of Information and Education for Tennessee Republic.
Read the letter:
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Broadband Installation” by BT’s BDUK Partnerships Fibre Rollout Photography. CC BY 2.0.
