January 2015

I’m in Cedar Falls (IA) to talk about how we can give more communities access to faster, cheaper broadband so they can succeed in the digital economy. Right now, about 45 million Americans cannot purchase next-generation broadband. And that next generation of broadband creates connections that are six or seven times faster than today’s basic speeds. And by the way, only about half of rural Americans can log on at that super-fast rate. But here’s the catch: In too many place across America, some big companies are doing everything they can to keep out competitors.

So today, I’m saying we're going to change that. If there are state laws in place that prohibit or restrict these community-based efforts, all of us -- including the Federal Communications Commission, which is responsible for regulating this area -- should do everything we can to push back on those old laws. I’m absolutely confident that if we just give Americans the tools they need, if we just help lay the foundation and allow them to access the amazing opportunities and technologies at this moment in world history, we’re not just going to continue recovering from a bad recession, we’re going to ignite the next generation of American innovation.

Sen Ed Markey (D-MA) saluted the White House for President Barack Obama's announced initiatives to boost high-speed broadband deployment and adoption, including "echoing" Sen Markey's call back in June that the Federal Communications Commission "eliminate barriers to communities building out their own broadband infrastructure."

“Local communities should have the opportunity to decide for themselves how best to promote competitive broadband service,” said Sen Markey. “What the broadband market needs today are more options and greater local choice, not barriers that prevent cities and towns from participating fully in the global economy," Sen Markey said. "Broadband communications networks are key to economic growth and competitiveness, both at the local and national levels. I once again urge the FCC to use its authority to lift restrictions and ensure municipalities have the power to make decisions about their broadband infrastructure.”

As an independent agency, the FCC must make its decisions based on the law, not political convenience. And US Supreme Court precedent makes clear that the FCC has no authority to preempt state restrictions on municipal broadband projects. The FCC instead should focus on removing regulatory barriers to broadband deployment by the private sector.