Bill Introduced to Block FCC Municipal Broadband Preemption

Even before the Federal Communications Commission released the text of its just-voted decision to preempt state laws limiting municipal broadband expansion in Tennessee and North Carolina, a pair of Republican legislators has introduced legislation to preempt that preemption.

Rep Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Sen Thom Tillis (R-NC) have introduced draft legislation that would prevent FCC preemption in Tennessee and North Carolina, as well as the 18 other states that have such laws, and any other state that might adopt them. “The FCC’s decision to grant the petitions of Chattanooga, Tennessee and Wilson, North Carolina is a troubling power grab,” Rep Blackburn said. “States are sovereign entities that have Constitutional rights, which should be respected rather than trampled upon. They know best how to manage their limited taxpayer dollars and financial ventures. Ironically, they will now be burdened by the poor judgment of a federal government that is over $18 trillion in debt and clearly cannot manage its own affairs."