Scheduled Hearing on Controversial Bill Postponed After Opposition by Google, Others
A controversial Kansas Senate bill that would block municipalities from creating their own networks ran into a speed bump Monday when the chairwoman of the state’s Senate Commerce Committee canceled a hearing on the measure that had been scheduled for the next day. Chairwoman Julia Lynn is “communicating with representatives on each side and it’s clear we need to gather more information,” she told us by email. “This is a long and deliberative process, and I expect to see changes as we move forward. I believe that all groups and individuals should continue to present facts on issues” as it moves through the legislative process, added Lynn.
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Senate Bill 304 would bar municipalities from offering or providing video, telecom or broadband service. It also would ban municipalities from buying, leasing, building, maintaining or leasing any facility that enables a private business or entity to provide the services. The Municipal Communications Network and Private Telecommunications Investment Safeguards Act was intended to “ensure that video, telecommunications and broadband services are provided through fair competition."
The postponement came after the bill faced opposition, including a letter by Google and industry groups Friday urging Lynn to oppose it. “This bill will harm both the public and private sectors, stifle economic growth, prevent the creation or retention of thousands of jobs, hamper work force development, and diminish the quality of life in Kansas,” the letter said. “SB 304 will hurt the private sector in several ways: by curtailing public-private partnerships; by stifling the ability of private companies to sell equipment and services to public broadband providers; and by impairing economic and educational opportunities that contribute to a skilled workforce from which businesses across the state will benefit."
The Kansas Cable Telecommunications Association, which has been pushing the bill, said Monday it had asked for the postponement to meet with other parties. President John Federico said the intent was to ensure appropriate scrutiny when municipalities “are considering using scarce taxpayer dollars to compete with private broadband providers.” The proposal hadn’t been meant to prevent telecom companies from providing or expanding service, Federico said in a news release, but to “provide safeguards to all telecommunication providers against government-subsidized competition."
The bill would prevent municipalities from joining private-public partnerships of the kind several in Kansas have with Google to build gigabit-speed networks. The letter also was signed by Alcatel-Lucent, the American Public Power Association, Calix, CTC Technology & Energy, Fiber to the Home Council, NATOA, OnTrac, Telecommunications Industry Association, Utilities Telecom Council and others.