Community Broadband Bill Approved by Senate Commerce Committee

COMMUNITY BROADBAND BILL APPROVED BY SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE
[SOURCE: US Senate Commerce Committee]
On Tuesday, the Senate Commerce Committee approved legislation to increase access to broadband services for cities and towns across America. The bill, the Community Broadband Act of 2007 (S.1853), would allow municipalities to help fill the void in broadband access and enhance public safety development while bringing broadband services to their residents. The Community Broadband Act of 2007 would specifically: set forth that no state or local regulation or requirement can prevent a public provider from offering broadband services; require a municipality offering high-speed Internet services to comply with federal telecommunications law or regulation that applies to all such providers; encourage public-private partnerships; and provide the public with notice and an opportunity to be heard before a municipality provides broadband to the public. The bill is sponsored by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), and cosponsored by Senators Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine). The bill now awaits action by the full Senate.
http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Det...

* Senate Bill Would Help Connect Local Communities (Free Press)
"The Community Broadband Act will empower local communities to deliver essential high-speed Internet access to all their citizens.... The Community Broadband Act will provide local governments, schools, nonprofits and disadvantaged communities with faster, cheaper and more reliable broadband service. With millions still lacking the economic benefits of high-speed Internet, this legislation could not be more critical."
http://www.freepress.net/press/release.php?id=292