Remarks Of FCC’s Gigi Sohn At Westminster's Fiber Launch Party

What is happening today is a great example of local communities and their leaders taking control of their broadband future. Westminster (MD) has chosen to engage in a private-public partnership with Ting, which will be providing the city with what they call "crazy fast fiber Internet." It's hard to believe that what you have built is the first community constructed fiber network in the Mid-Atlantic region...

Please be assured that the Federal Communications Commission is an ally to Westminster and all communities looking to offer their citizens more competitive choices for true high-speed Internet. We are committed to cutting through bureaucratic red tape to accelerate and lower the costs of broadband deployment. For example, our recent Open Internet Order eased access to utility poles and other conduits necessary to broadband deployment. We also approved petitions from the leaders of Chattanooga (TN) and Wilson (NC) to pre-empt the restrictive state laws hampering investment and deployment in their areas. I want to congratulate you again for being a leader in community broadband and a model for other communities to emulate.