Rep. Eshoo, Sen. Booker Introduce Bill to Expand Internet Access and Protect Local Communities’ Broadband Networks

Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Community Broadband Act to improve internet and broadband access across the country by removing roadblocks prohibiting local communities from building their own broadband networks. Twenty-one states have passed laws that either restrict or outright prohibit local communities from investing local dollars in building their own broadband networks. These laws shield incumbent internet service providers (ISPs) from competition and tie the hands of communities that want to improve broadband options or build out to unserved areas that private providers refuse to connect. A recent study from New America's Open Technology Institute found that community-owned ISPs offer higher speed and lower prices for users than incumbent ISPs. The Community Broadband Act nullifies state laws that inhibit local governments from building their own broadband, preserving the right to self-determination for local communities.