In 2009, Rhode Island began requiring e-commerce retailers to collect and remit state sales taxes if they generate more than $5,000 in sales through in-state sales affiliates. Continue reading
One U.S. state, North Dakota, and nearly a dozen European countries have laws that require that pharmacies be owned by pharmacists. These laws ensure that pharmacy services are controlled by local health care providers and not by distant corporations. Research indicates that limiting drugstore ownership to independent pharmacists results in superior and more broadly available… Continue reading
Enacted in 1963, North Dakota’s Pharmacy Ownership Law stipulates that only pharmacies that are majority owned by a licensed pharmacist may be granted a permit to operate in the state. Research on the law’s impact shows that North Dakota has more pharmacies dispersed across rural areas than other states, has among the lowest prescription drug prices in the country, and reaps significant economic benefits from the fact that most of its pharmacies are locally owned. Continue reading
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. Continue reading
Indiana grants a 15% preference to small, independent businesses, as defined below, and gives all other local businesses a preference of 1-5%, depending on the size of the contract. Continue reading
A unique law in North Dakota requires that pharmacies be owned by pharmacists, which means that almost all pharmacies in the state are independently owned. This report finds that, thanks to the law, North Dakota outperforms other states on key measures of pharmacy service, including the number of pharmacies serving rural areas and average prescription prices. Continue reading
Nebraska is the only state in the union served entirely by public power utilities. In 2005, the Nebraska Legislature passed a law prohibiting public power utilities from selling broadband or other telecommunications services for a two year period (Legislative Bill 645). The bill also created a task force to investigate broadband access in Nebraska and the implications of allowing public entities to provide broadband. Continue reading
In late-May 2005, Maine’s governor signed LD 1128, which clarifies local government authority to offer Internet services. The act also instructs the State Planning Office to study the “economic, technological and funding issues associated with municipalities providing wireless Internet services to their communities.” Continue reading
In June 1998, long-distance telephone company AT&T announced itsintent to buy TCI, one of the country’s largest cable companies. TheCity of Portland and Multnomah County, Oregon agreed to transfer ofcontrol of local TCI franchises to AT&T only if AT&T allowedunaffiliated Internet service providers (ISPs) to lease capacity on thecable network. This would permit subscribers to use an ISP of theirchoice, and non-affiliated ISPs would pay AT&T a wholesale rate forthe use of its lines. Continue reading
Utah Telecommunications Open Infrastructure Agency (UTOPIA) is aninter-governmental agency, representing about one-third of Utah’spopulation. UTOPIA is building a fiber-to-the-home network that willdeliver speeds of at least 100 Mbps to every home and business in eachof the 18 member cities. Continue reading
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