Verizon Wireless and Governor Perdue Celebrate Company's 4G LTE Network in Georgia

/PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless and Governor Sonny Perdue teamed up at December 7 at the state Capitol to demonstrate the impressive speeds and "wow factor" of Georgia's first large-scale 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) wireless network. Verizon Wireless officially launched the LTE network in Atlanta and Athens on Sunday, December 5. The initial availability of 4G LTE in Atlanta, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and Athens is part of the company's national rollout in 38 major metropolitan areas, immediately reaching one-third of all Americans.

"The inclusion of Atlanta and Athens on the list of the first cities nationwide to get this next generation technology makes perfect sense," said Jeff Mango, president – Georgia/Alabama Region, Verizon Wireless. "Atlanta is one of the leading technology hubs in the United States and Athens is the home of the University of Georgia, an internationally recognized educational and research institution. We are thrilled to introduce the fastest, most advanced 4G mobile network in America to Georgians in these two cities and look forward to a statewide 4G network in the near future."

"Verizon Wireless has long been recognized in the wireless industry as tirelessly committed to its network. Georgia's 4G LTE network in Atlanta and Athens is further evidence of that constant commitment to performance and reliability," said Governor Sonny Perdue.

The 4G LTE network in Atlanta covers 4.1 million people and over 2,500 square miles. All of downtown Atlanta is covered including the facilities at the Georgia Aquarium, Georgia Dome, Philip's Arena and Turner Field. Coverage extends as far west as Lithia Springs and Austell, south of Fayetteville, east past Lithonia and north to Alpharetta. Atlanta-area universities impacted by the 4G LTE network footprint are Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Georgia State University, Clark Atlanta University, Spelman, Morehouse, Mercer and Oglethorpe. Atlanta's 10 major shopping malls are also covered including North Point, Perimeter, Lenox, Southlake, Cobb Galleria, Gwinnett Place, Towne Center, Discovery Mills, and Stonebriar.

The Athens 4G LTE coverage area includes over 180,000 residents and over 550 square miles, including downtown Athens and the University of Georgia's 33,000 students. The network covers the 78 Loop, four miles north of the Loop, west to Coggins Industrial Park, south to Watkinsville and east to Winterville.

"We are extremely excited about the possibilities this technology brings to enterprise and government users, businesses and individual laptop users in Athens and eventually throughout Georgia. What we witnessed today is just one example of what this new technology allows us to do," said Kathy Hoard, Mayor Pro Tem, Athens-Clarke County.

Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network provides higher data rates, better coverage, improved mobility and performance, end-to-end Quality of Service, security and simplified roaming. While Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network promises much more than speed, this first rollout gives Georgia's mobile workforce the ability to work significantly faster and with improved latency, increasing productivity and the opportunity to get work done wherever business takes them.

Initially, Verizon Wireless 4G LTE services can be accessed on laptop computers equipped with either the LG VL600 or Pantech UML290 wireless modems. Both USB modems provide backward-compatibility with the Verizon Wireless 3G network. If laptop users travel outside of a 4G LTE coverage area, they will automatically stay connected on the company's 3G network, the nation's largest and most reliable.

Additional 4G devices will be launched in coming months, and the company expects consumer-oriented LTE handsets will be available by mid-2011.

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Governor Signs Texting Bills

Governor Sonny Perdue today (June 4) signed House Bill 23.  The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Matt Ramsey, makes it illegal for anyone under 18 to use a cell phone while driving.

“We need to do everything possible to focus young drivers on the road ahead,” said Governor Perdue regarding HB 23. “I want to thank Rep. Ramsey for working hard on this bill.”

The Governor also signed Senate Bill 360 sponsored by Sen. Jack Murphy, which makes it illegal for all drivers to text while driving.  Before signing the legislation the Governor expressed his continued concern with some provisions of the bill, but said he agreed to sign with the assurance that the bill sponsors were committed to addressing his concerns in legislation next year.

“Because of the sponsors’ assurances, I have decided to sign SB 360,” said Governor Perdue.  “I hope that we will all commit to driving safely, free of distraction.”

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Governor Requests Attorney General Join Colleagues in Reviewing Constitutionality of Federal Health Care Bill

Governor Sonny Perdue on December 23 requested Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker join colleagues from around the nation in reviewing the Constitutionality of the health care bill under consideration in Congress. At least seven Attorneys General have confirmed that they are looking at several special deals made by Senate leadership to buy the votes of wavering Senators.

“The leadership of Congress, particularly Senate leadership, understands the financial devastation that is looming for states, which is clearly evidenced by the special deals that have been cut for states that have Democratic Senators with wavering support of the reform,” Governor Perdue wrote to Attorney General Baker. “In order to calm the concerns, Senate leadership has granted special exemptions with additional federal dollars to cover the substantial increases in Medicaid costs for a few states while leaving the rest of us to foot the entire bill.”

The special treatment that Senators have won for their states will cost the country’s taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, in addition to the billions in state costs that will skyrocket under this bill.

The full text of Governor Perdue’s letter to Attorney General Baker is below:


The Honorable Thurbert Baker
Attorney General of Georgia

Dear Attorney General Baker:

RE: H.R. 3590 - “Health Care Reform”

The debate over healthcare policy in Washington, DC has reached a critical juncture now that 60 Senators have agreed to support the latest bill unveiled by Sen. Harry Reid over this past weekend. Under the House and Senate proposals, state spending on Medicaid will increase dramatically and Governors of both parties have repeatedly objected to the path we appear to be rushing toward. One of my Democratic Governor colleagues even called this bill “the mother of all unfunded mandates.”

The leadership of Congress, particularly Senate leadership, understands the financial devastation that is looming for states, which is clearly evidenced by the special deals that have been cut for states that have Democratic Senators with wavering support of the reform. In order to calm the concerns, Senate leadership has granted special exemptions with additional federal dollars to cover the substantial increases in Medicaid costs for a few states while leaving the rest of us to foot the entire bill. Senator Reid’s recent compromise to obtain the support of Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska is the most striking example where the federal government would cover one hundred percent of the cost of all newly eligible Medicaid enrollees in just the State of Nebraska. In addition, the health care legislation grants an additional $300 million in Medicaid aid to the State of Louisiana which secured Senator Mary Landrieu’s support – a deal many are calling the new “Louisiana Purchase.”

Yesterday, seven Attorneys General from across the country confirmed that they are looking at the constitutionality of these special deals. As I have considerable concerns over the constitutionality of these recent actions, I respectfully request that you join your colleagues from Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas and Washington state in investigating the constitutionality of these special exemptions in the health care legislation and explore the availability of any legal challenges that Georgia could pursue to oppose this unconscionable scenario.

Congress appears to be on the cusp of making a decision that will have ripple effects for decades to come. Now is the time to ensure that any decision that is made has been thoroughly vetted and deemed to meet the intent and spirit of our country’s Constitution.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely
Governor Sonny Perdue

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Opinion: While Rome Burns. . .

On May 11 Governor Perdue vetoed SB178 - Education; advance funding, exceptional growth, low-wealth capital outlay grants; embed/extend a sunset date saying that he had serious concerns about the dual enrollment (students in high school taking postsecondary classes) and ‘BRIDGE’ portions of the bill.

The ‘BRIDGE’ portion (Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia’s Economy) was designed to develop programs to improve graduation rates and to improve the preparedness of students for postsecondary education and careers. Each ninth grade student would select a focus of study and have an individual graduation plan. Rigor in curriculum (high expectations yields high results) was maintained and industry/national certification could be pursued. A productive citizen doesn’t have to be a four-year college graduate. Senator Isakson told me the individual graduation plan is the best feature of this bill and it alone made the bill worthwhile.

The legislation contained model programs for students at risk of dropping out of high school. School counselors and graduation coaches would also be trained in career awareness programs as well as college prep.

Remember traditionally one out of three students do not graduate from high school. Only fifteen percent of students graduate from a four-year college in six years.

We spend over $10 billion in education for these results. The biggest impediment we have in statewide economic development is our reputation of having an uneducated workforce (not traffic congestion).

It is the Governor’s right to veto any piece of legislation. However, his press release stated he had substantive policy concerns about ‘BRIDGE’; the initial cost was $417 million per his staff; and the annual ongoing cost was $146 million.

Superintendent Cox, the Department of Education, and I (primary bill sponsor) know of no policy concerns that were not resolved. No one in the Governor’s office ever raised any of these ‘objections’ with us. We currently spend about $10 million in the areas of the legislation and the Superintendent and DOE felt they could implement the bill with little additional cost. Remember we spend over $10 billion for poor outcomes. Do you think a new approach that gives all students hope and a chance to excel might be a good idea?

After three years of work, this bill is an attempt to deal with a major problem on a macro level. We have individual school districts that currently employ many of the strategies in this legislation and this bill would take these best practices statewide.
This is not a gimmick or a token effort at a problem (superspeeder for trauma) or another reorganization of a department while the problem continues (traffic) and frustration mounts.

I know we live in difficult times and resources are scarce. Stimulus finds are available to help fill some of the holes. Hopefully the money will be spent on programs/facilities that will make a difference.

It is time to park egos and allow others’ good ideas to proceed. ‘BRIDGE’ is not my creation. Many smart people crafted this bill and I am just the messenger.

Education reform should not take over three years when my party is in control.
How many more dropouts will we create by our inaction? How many more companies will pass on Georgia due to our reputation in education? Where is the vision? GO FISH!

Fran Millar
Vice-Chairman, Education Committee
Georgia House of Representatives

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Governor, Legislature Support Sales Tax Exemptions For Clinical Trials and Free Samples of Drugs

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Georgia Bio applauds the General Assembly for adopting legislation that exempts from sales tax free samples of prescription drugs and biologics and of investigational products in clinical trials and applauds Governor Sonny Perdue for his support of the measure. The legislation, House Bill 59, makes permanent an executive order issued by Governor Perdue in September 2008.

The action by Governor Perdue and the legislature, which voted unanimously in the House and Senate to approve HB 59, will help ensure that Georgia patients and the state’s healthcare centers do not lose thousands of clinical trials. In promoting the legislation, Georgia Bio called attention to the fact that imposing a tax on investigational products used in research and in clinical trials placed an immediate disincentive on conducting research or clinical trials in Georgia. It not only threatened the loss of significant revenues to Georgia academic institutions and hospitals, but also discontinuation of clinical trials in Georgia could have denied patients access to the most advanced life saving medicines. The legislation exempts from sales tax investigational drugs, biologics, medical devices and animal health medicines dispensed without charge in clinical trials.

The sales tax exemption on free samples of prescription drugs and biologics is consistent with Georgia law exempting tax on sales of these medicines. In the case of free samples, these are often provided to patients by physicians as “starter packs” to determine if a new medicine is useful for and can be tolerated by a patient before a prescription for the new medicine is written. In other cases, free samples of medicines are provided to the elderly and uninsured who otherwise cannot afford them. In all cases, these medicines are never resold.

In his executive order, Governor Perdue stated:

“It is in the best interests of Georgians to exempt from sales and use taxes pharmaceutical medications that are distributed without cost for several reasons, including: (1) the ability to distribute needed medicines to persons that might not otherwise be able to afford them; (2) the attraction of clinical trials to Georgia for the betterment of the health of Georgians and to continue the State's place as a leader in cutting-edge health research; and (3) the elimination of an inconsistency in the law whereby pharmaceutical medicines that are sold at retail are not taxed, however those that are distributed for free are subject to taxation.”

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Latest Numbers: State Revenues Decline Further, Governor Should Veto Tax Cuts

In light of the continued decline in state revenues, the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute calls on Governor Perdue to continue his promise of fiscal responsibility and veto bills passed by the General Assembly that siphon dollars from the fiscal year 2010 budget, placing it into a deficit.

The FY 2009 collections through March are running 1.2 percentage points behind what the budget projects - a 8.0% revenue decline from FY 2008 total collections instead of a 6.8% revenue decline. If this decline maintains through the end of the year (April through June), the FY 2009 revenue shortfall will be at least $225 million.

Georgia has approximately $550 million in the Revenue Shortfall Reserve that automatically covers the shortfall this year, however this leaves little wiggle-room for the FY 2010 budget starting in July.

"Governor Perdue has been a good and reliable steward of Georgia's budget," said Alan Essig, GBPI's executive director. "He is the last chance Georgia has to prevent worsening the impending deficit."

A deficit is acutely relevant in light of so-called stimulus legislation the governor has on his desk. According to the official fiscal notes on House Bill 261 and HB 481, if these bills are signed into law they will cost the state treasury approximately $60 million in FY 2010, as well as hundreds of millions of dollars in FY 2011 and FY 2012.

"These bills devote millions of dollars to activity that will occur regardless of government intervention. They will also keep millions of dollars from important services that won't be offered to Georgians who need them, such as meals on wheels and care for Georgians with developmental disabilities, and to services that make our state strong, like the education system," said Sarah Beth Gehl, deputy director of GBPI.

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