The federal legislation would overturn laws in 17 states and prevent a reintroduction of such a measure in Maine.
This article by Colin Woodward was published in The Evening Express, January 29, 2018.
Last year a legislative panel unanimously rejected a bill drafted by a secretive group that would have made it nearly impossible for communities to build their own high-speed internet networks, even when cable and telephone companies declined to do so. Now, U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree is co-sponsoring legislation in Congress that aims to make sure there isn’t a repeat of the measure and to overturn laws passed in recent years in 17 other states.
“We should be rolling out the red carpet to communities that are trying to meet the big challenge of having high-speed internet, rather than have the state try to restrict them on behalf of the big utilities and cable companies,” said Pingree, a Democrat who represents Maine’s 1st District. “It seems very anti-American and anti-entrepreneurial spirit.” MORE…