WASHINGTON-As expected, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) Thursday afternoon introduced “The Community Broadband Act of 2005” to ensure that no state prevents a municipality from offering high-speed access to its citizens.
“In the simplest of terms, this bill would ensure that any town, city or county that wishes to offer high-speed Internet services to its citizens can do so. The bill would also ensure fairness by requiring municipalities that offer high-speed Internet services to do so in compliance with all federal and state telecommunications laws and in a non-discriminatory manner,” said McCain. “I recognize that our nation has a long and successful history of private investment in critical communications infrastructure. That history must be respected, protected, and continued. However, when private industry does not answer the call because of market failures or other obstacles, it is appropriate and even commendable, for the people acting through their local governments to improve their lives by investing in their own future.”
Announcement of the bill, which is a direct contrast to legislation proposed last month by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), was made during a U.S. Chamber of Commerce event Wednesday on municipal broadband.
“Being sure our children and families can compete in the future is a local issue,” said Dianah Neff, chief information officer for the City of Philadelphia.
Neff is one of the leading proponents of municipal broadband. Philadelphia is developing a municipal Wi-Fi system that will be used by the city for its own telecommunications needs but will be also open to all citizens of Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia project and others in both large and small cities have received strong criticism from telecom and cable companies that believe municipalities should let the private market offer these services.
“I just don’t think it is a wise use of assets,” said Michael Balhoff, managing partner at Balhoff & Rowe L.L.C.
The McCain/Lautenberg bill comes at a time when various states are acting on their own bills, some for municipal broadband, some against.
