It’s in the “best interests of consumers and...

opportunity, we will do so.” Competitions works “when it is allowed to,” Wheeler said. “Throughout the country where we have seen competitive broadband providers come in to a market, prices have gone down and broadband speeds have gone up. No wonder incumbent broadband providers want to legislate rather than innovate,” Wheeler said. Removing restrictions on community broadband “can expand high-speed Internet access in underserved areas, spurring economic growth and improvements in government services, while enhancing competition,” Wheeler said. Wheeler met Monday with Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke to examine that community’s broadband network. An investment by Chattanooga in community broadband has helped ensure all its citizens have Internet access, and made the city “a hub for the high-tech jobs people usually associate with Silicon Valley,” Wheeler said. The network was built “out of necessity” as local phone and cable companies “chose to delay improvements and broadband service to the Chattanooga area market,” Wheeler said. Adjoining communities have asked the Chattanooga mayor to join the network but they can’t because of Tennessee state law restricting the city from expanding its network’s footprint, Wheeler said. “Community broadband there hasn’t always been a success,” Wheeler said. “But a review of the record shows far more successes than failures. If the people, acting through their elected local governments, want to pursue competitive community broadband, they shouldn’t be stopped by state laws promoted by cable and telephone companies that don’t want that competition.” An FCC spokesman told us in late April it would announce an approach for challenging bans on community broadband by mid-May (CD April 29 p3).