Georgia Tackles Broadband Expansion And Local Control

Rural Georgia needs better internet access quickly, but state lawmakers said internet companies won’t expand to rural areas if there’s too much red tape. Lobbyists said their companies are spending too much time negotiating with each city and county for access to roads to install broadband equipment. So state lawmakers and local elected officials will meet for the first time to talk about who has the right of way. Dublin Mayor Phil Best said the residential areas of town are where broadband service spotty. He said he welcomes internet providers, but he wants to keep local control of his city. Best is also first vice president of the Georgia Municipal Association, which represents the interests of city governments in Georgia. He said cities want companies to install broadband access in their communities quickly, but how to make sure their assets and ordinances are respected at the same time is “the $10,000 question.”