Web companies give support to government-run Internet

The Internet Association is urging the Federal Communications Commission to consider blocking state laws that ban cities from building out their own Internet networks.

The FCC “should use the full weight of its authority to prevent any private or public entity from inhibiting the deployment of broadband networks or standing in the way of increased competition in providing those services,” wrote the group, which includes Google, Yahoo, Netflix and other industry titans. “The commission is right to carefully examine state laws adopted to prevent a local government from creating a high speed broadband service, especially in municipalities that are underserved,” it added. “[I]n conducting its assessment, the commission should carefully examine not only whether these state laws are standing in the way of deployment of broadband into new areas, but whether they are impeding the deployment of truly advanced services.”