S. 1853 Community Broadband Act of 2007

Summary

On July 23, 2007, Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg introduced legislation to help make broadband access universal and affordable across the country. The measure would promote economic development, enhance public safety, and increase educational opportunities by removing barriers that prevent cities and towns from offering broadband services to their residents.

Sen. Lautenberg’s measure – known as the “Community Broadband Act of 2007” – stipulates that states cannot prohibit a municipality from offering broadband to its residents, and that a municipality that is a provider cannot discriminate against private competitors.

The measure:

• Sets forth that no state regulation or requirement shall prevent a public provider from offering broadband services;
• Prohibits a municipality from discriminating against competing private providers;
• Requires a municipality offering high-speed Internet services to comply with Federal telecommunications law or regulation that applies to all such providers;
• Encourages public-private partnerships and;
• Provides the public with notice and an opportunity to be heard before a municipality provides broadband to the public.

Read the bill

Updates

• * The Senate Commerce Committee approved the bill on Tuesday, October 30, 2007.

  * The bill is scheduled to be marked-up on Tuesday, October 30, 2007.

  * 7/23/2007 Referred to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Supporters

Sponsor Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ)

Co-sponsors:
Sens. Gordon Smith (R-OR)
John Kerry (D-MA)
John McCain (R-AZ)
Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
Ted Stevens (R-AK)
Daniel Inouye (D-HI)

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