Ark. Senate 35-0 Supports Lifting Muni Broadband Limits
Arkansas senators voted 35-0 to lift municipal broadband restrictions, sending the measure Tuesday to the House. SB-74 increases competition for broadband, the “new electricity of the 21st century,” said sponsor Sen. Ricky Hill (R) at the livestreamed floor session. The…
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bill would declare a broadband emergency and immediately lift restrictions for all governments and public education. It would amend state law to say they may "directly or indirectly" provide voice, data, broadband, video or wireless telecom services, including the right to "acquire, construct, furnish, equip, own, operate, sell, convey, lease, rent, let, assign, dispose of, contract for, or otherwise deal in facilities and apparatus for" those services. If a government raises funds through bonds, it must partner with a private entity to provide service. SB-74 “fully supports local control,” emailed Arkansas Municipal League Executive Director Mark Hayes. The Institute for Local Self-Reliance supports the measure, said Community Broadband Networks Initiative Director Christopher Mitchell. Co-sponsor Sen. Breanne Davis (R) pushed on the issue “two years ago, and I think she backed off a bit to give the big cable and telephone companies a little more time to do something to solve the problem,” Mitchell emailed. “They haven't, and now she and many others across the political spectrum believe communities need to be able to invest in themselves to ensure everyone has high-quality Internet access.” Nebraska and Washington state might also reduce muni broadband barriers. The Washington House Community and Economic Development Committee has a hearing Wednesday on HB-1336 by Rep. Drew Hansen (D), who promised last fall to kill all broadband restrictions on cities, sovereign tribes, rural utility districts and other government entities (see 2009180038). Nebraska Sen. Justin Wayne (D) last week introduced LB-656 authorizing municipalities to provide broadband.