Like Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's Smarter Baltimore draft report, the commentary, "Broadband for Baltimore" (July 27), has solid recommendations for building high speed Internet in Baltimore. But like that report, it ignores the principal reason that Baltimore City doesn't have broadband. Verizon's failure to build FiOS in Baltimore is leaving our city behind.
We can also lay blame on our elected officials who have failed to provide this 21st century technology for our residents and businesses. While Verizon has brought high-speed Internet to virtually every other Maryland jurisdiction, Baltimore City is a fiber desert. This disinvestment puts our residents, students and businesses at a permanent disadvantage.
A current Verizon advertising campaign urges customers to "Get Out of the Past. Get FiOS." Baltimore City residents need and deserve to be a part of this future. Baltimore cannot be a world-class city with third-world broadband infrastructure. Surrounding suburban communities benefit from competitive broadband providers driving investment, innovation and service. Our elected leaders should ensure the same for Baltimore City. We deserve nothing less.
Charly Carter, Baltimore
The writer is executive director of Maryland Working Families.