Colorado law hinders cities' efforts to expand broadband networks

[Commentary] Denver City Councilman Albus Brooks not long ago in a meeting with the mayor raised an interesting question: Why didn't Denver offer a free citywide Wi-Fi service? The answer: Because it is illegal.

Not only does Senate Bill 152 affect public Wi-Fi, the law also has hindered the expansion of high-speed broadband networks across Colorado. It has kept consumer prices high and download speeds slow and has arguably cost the state jobs.

Similar to other laws across the country enacted at the same time, SB 152 was pushed by large telecommunications companies as a way to restrict future municipal broadband efforts.

The statute created by SB 152 needs to go away. While civic and business leaders tout ambitious projects to connect the state with the rest of the world, Colorado is falling behind because of artificial constraints to broadband expansion.