Friday, February 03, 2012

Telecoms try to erect obstacles to publicly provided broadband in Georgia

Georgia is the latest state where telecommunications companies are trying to get laws passed to make it more difficult for local governments to provide broadband service. "Representatives of rural cities and counties across Georgia told a panel of state senators on Thursday that they had to create the broadband networks private providers refused to bring to their communities, The Associated Press reports.

The telecoms' Senate Bill 313 is sponsored by the Senate majority leader, Republican Chip Rogers. It "would prevent public broadband providers from paying for communication networks with tax or government funds and from offering their services at below-cost prices," AP reports. "It would also require local governments to hold hearings and a special election to become a public provider." (Read more)

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