(iverson's) currentbuzz: Community Broadband Act would overturn bans on municipal broadband

Sunday, August 05, 2007

Community Broadband Act would overturn bans on municipal broadband

I wrote about the potential bans when Chicago City Council was moving to pass an ordinance that would allow municipal wifi in Chicago no matter what the state did. There was a Republican gubernatorial candidate who was close to telecos who was promoting a statewide ban that ended up going nowhere. This bill is a good sign.

The Community Broadband Act looks like a good bill, as it attempts to eliminate barriers that currently exist to meaningful competition and better service in many parts of the country. Should the bill pass and the upcoming 700MHz spectrum auction end in a way that leads to a viable third broadband pipe, there would be reason to think US broadband policy is taking a turn for the better.

Source: arstechnica.com