Municipal Broadband Restrictions Interfere with State BEAD Plans

Date: 14 Sep 2023 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

One major barrier to providing universal access to fast, reliable and affordable Internet service–long recognized by ILSR, telecom experts, and a growing number of ordinary citizens–are the monopoly-friendly preemption laws that either outright ban or erect insurmountable barriers to municipal broadband.… Read More

Municipal Broadband Advocates Win Major Victory in Ohio

Date: 29 Jun 2021 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Municipal broadband advocates in Ohio realized a major victory today when a bipartisan House and Senate conference committee released the final version of their state budget plan that added $250 million to expand broadband access in the Buckeye State and removed the anonymous budget amendment that would have effectively banned municipal broadband networks if passed into law.… Read More

Ohio Inches Closer to Ban on Municipal Broadband Projects

Date: 10 Jun 2021 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

When the Ohio Senate passed its two-year $75-billion budget bill yesterday, it included an amendment that effectively bans the creation and operation of municipal broadband networks and other community-owned projects without much in the way of public debate. The move is drawing a lot of blowback, from cities in the state to local and national advocacy organizations to the Lieutenant Governor.… Read More

Washington State Removes All Barriers to Municipal Broadband

Date: 14 May 2021 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Yesterday, following weeks of anticipation, State Gov. Jay Islee signed the Public Broadband Act (H.B. 1336), removing all restrictions on public broadband in the state of Washington, according to the bill’s primary sponsor, State Rep. Drew Hansen. This critical leap forward in Washington drops the number of states with laws restricting community broadband to 17. … Read More

Republican Broadband Agenda Would Preempt Local Authority and Ban Municipal Networks

Date: 25 Feb 2021 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Last week, House Republicans introduced a bill package ostensibly to promote broadband expansion and competition across the country. In reality, the legislation is a wish list of monopoly cable and telephone companies that will protect them from competition and decrease their accountability to the public. It would also ban communities from building their own networks or engaging in public-private partnerships.… Read More

What Your City Can Do to Close Digital Divides During Covid

Date: 25 Aug 2020 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

To help local governments that want to improve connectivity during the pandemic, we at the Community Broadband Networks initiative at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance have teamed up with the Local Solutions Support Center to produce a number of helpful resources, including a guide for local governments and an interactive state broadband preemption map.… Read More

Is Your City Allowed to Close the Digital Divide During the Pandemic?

Date: 6 Jul 2020 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

As the pandemic drags on, local governments across the country are looking for ways to connect their residents. To help local officials and advocates figure out if their community is able to take action, we worked with the Local Solutions Support Center (LSSC) to develop a step-by-step guide.… Read More

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