North Carolina Senate approves heightening hurdles for muni-broadband

The North Carolina State Senate has approved by an overwhelming margin a bill that seeks to force municipal broadband networks to submit to a public approval vote, as well as private network fees that some observers believe would derail recent progress in the municipal broadband sector.

The Senate approved the controversial House Bill 129 by a vote of 37-9, and the legislation now goes back to the House for a final approval.

The legislation has been supported by a cadre of major broadband service providers who see the muni-broadband networks as competitive to them. It has been opposed by local media, municipal broadband advocates, such as the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, and public officials like FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, who said the bill threatens the goals of the FCC’s National Broadband Plan.

Assuming the legislation passes, at least five municipalities in North Carolina could be exempt from it because they already have operational broadband networks in place. Other municipalities with networks in the planning stages reportedly will need to review the new law before they proceed further. With the progress that has been made with this legislation in North Carolina, it's likely that similar efforts on other states’ legislatures could gain steam.