TRENTON — Assembly Republican Sam Fiocchi met with local elected officials and the chairman of the Board of Public Utilities to discuss ongoing frustration with making phone calls and connecting to the Internet in South Jersey.
“In the rest of the state, people can take landline and cell phone service for granted, and broadband service is a necessity,” said Fiocchi, R – Cumberland, Cape May and Atlantic. “Here in South Jersey, phone service is unreliable and broadband Internet is non-existent in many communities.”
Recently, Fiocchi brought these issues to the attention of Gov. Christie, who helped arrange today’s meeting with BPU Chairman Richard Mroz.
“Persistent problems with telecommunications, landline and cell reliability, and widespread copper wire problems throughout the District are all critical concerns that negatively impact the quality of life, productivity and safety of our residents,” Fiocchi said. “With today’s technology, there is no excuse for failing to provide reliable access to the Internet and voice communication.”
Fiocchi sponsors two bills to improve telecommunications in the 1st District:
A-3818 provides a corporation business tax credit for investment in infrastructure for the expansion of broadband telecommunications in municipalities with less than 10,000 residents
A-2429 establishes a one-year moratorium on the replacement of copper-based landline telephone service with non-copper-based landline or wireless telephone service
Also participating in the meeting were local elected officials:
• Mayor Stephen Teasenfitz, Estell Manor
• Mayor Ken Haser, Weymouth Twp.
• Mayor Bruce Hankins, Hopewell
• Mayor Bob Campbell, Downe Twp.
• Committeeman Greg Facemyer, Hopewell
• Barbara Stratton, official from Stow Creek
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
