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03/28/2024 09:37 PM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20170&cosponId=25417
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House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: March 14, 2018 04:33 PM
From: Representative Anthony M. DeLuca
To: All House members
Subject: Repealing Prohibtion on Municipal Broadband Deployment
 
Dear Colleagues,

In the near future I will introduce legislation which repeals the prohibition on municipal broadband deployment. Currently, municipalities have to navigate an arcane procedure to secure fast, high quality broadband.

This is a serious issue for rural areas who are underserved by large corporate Internet Service Providers (ISPs). It is also an issue for municipalities who wish to develop their own broadband networks for their residents, schools and businesses. Allowing rural communities to deploy broadband could spur economic growth, as municipal broadband networks can deliver internet speeds that rival their commercial counterparts.

With the repeal of net neutrality, municipal broadband can be an effective tool against ISPs which slow down some content and speed up other content. This slowing down or speeding up is dependent upon how much content-providers pay ISPs, also known as “paid-prioritization.” Municipal broadband is an essential tool to ensure a free, fair and open internet. The free flow of information is the cornerstone of a functioning democracy.

Close to 200 cities in the U.S., including Kutztown, PA, have near-comprehensive municipal broadband solutions. Let’s give our local communities and their residents the ability to provide themselves with fast, high quality broadband without being dependent on large monopolistic ISPs.

Please support this bill which endeavors to return decision-making surrounding the deployment of municipal broadband back to the municipalities.