Fergie's Tech Blog

Senators Can't Agree on Muni Broadband Rules

Anne Broache writes on C|Net News:

When cities create wireless networks, should the federal government restrict their efforts, promote them, or let individual states decide the ground rules?

That's the question politicians and industry representatives batted around during a 90-minute U.S. Senate Commerce Committee hearing here Tuesday afternoon.

The hearing came amid an ongoing debate over whether local governments should get into the business of offering broadband to their residents. A number of smaller towns have already started building their own networks. Those in favor of the projects argue they'll bridge the nation's digital divide and provide broadband more quickly to underserved areas.

posted by Fergie @ 2/15/2006 08:57:00 AM