Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
State and Local Government Law
Broadband; Internet; Telecommunications; Administrative Law; Legislation; Federal Communications Commission; Federalism; Preemption
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Law
Broadband Localism, Olivier Sylvain
Broadband Localism, Olivier Sylvain
Faculty Scholarship
Today, local governments are supplying broadband service to residents to fill the service gap left by major providers. Municipalities are joining forces with local anchor institutions and private providers to close the digital divide and incubate novel public-minded service models. This is the new broadband localism. Some stakeholders fear that local public participation in the broadband market will negatively impact competition. They have articulated this concern in state legislation across the country: nineteen states forbid or otherwise restrict municipal ownership or administration of broadband and three may enact similar restrictions this year. No matter the substantive policy merits of such …