Universial Broadband act of 2007

by Mark Hewitt
July 26th 2007

Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) today introduced a bill supporting legislation to help make "Community Broadband" a reality for everyone.

The proposed leglislation is very careful to protect many of the existing business and development business and utility models currently expanding across the United States today.

The Community Broadband Act of 2005:

• Ensures that no State prevents a municipality from offering high-speed internet access to its citizens if the municipality so chooses;
  
• Ensures that when a municipality
  is in the position of regulator or competitor, it does not abuse such authority.
  For example, the municipality could not enact a three percent franchise fee on itself, but a five percent franchise on a competitor; and
  
• Ensures that a municipality complies with the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and any other federal or state telecommunications laws.

The measure is also sponsored by Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR), John Kerry (D-MA), John McCain (R-AZ), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), and Olympia Snowe (R-ME).