FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ball State Says Hershman's Reform Bill Has Led to More
Jobs, Investment and Technology Access for Hoosiers
(STATEHOUSE)— Sen. Brandt Hershman’s (R-Wheatfield) work on a telecom reform bill in 2006 has resulted in 2,200 new jobs and $516 million in investments across Indiana to date, according to a new report from Ball State University.
Ball State’s Digital Policy Institute (DPI) shows that Hershman’s leadership has made Indiana the model for other states exploring telecom deregulation. And several experts have called Indiana's reform bill the "best of its kind anywhere in the country."
“Indiana has come a very long way from the outdated regulatory system we had prior to passage of this legislation,” Hershman said. “Our reform effort has led to significant investment, jobs and broadband expansion. And these benefits are coming to all areas of our state."
The telecom reform legislation passed with strong bi-partisan support and was signed into law by Gov. Mitch Daniels on March 14, 2006. According to the DPI report, some of the key benefits of Hershman's bill have included:
- Expanded DSL service in 102 previously underserved rural communities;
- $516 million in new capital investments;
- More than 2,200 new jobs, and
- Cost savings for cable subscribers of 15-20 percent in some cases.
"Before our reform law was enacted, new entrants were discouraged from investing to compete for cable television and Internet customers," said Hershman. Now, the investment is flowing and the competition is fierce. We did away with unnecessary regulatory barriers and made Indiana more attractive for providers interested in bringing advanced technologies to our state."
Include a link to the BSU report
Go to http://www.bsu.edu/digitalpolicy/media/pdf/2008ExecutiveSummary.pdf for a summary of Ball State’s report or visit the Digital Policy Institute’s Web site at http://www.bsu.edu/digitalpolicy/
-30- Senator Hershman represents District 7, which includes Carroll, Clinton, Howard, Jasper, Tippecanoe and White counties.
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