NATOA Files Amicus Brief in Support of Community Broadband
January 22, 2009 2:26 PM
Consistent with its
long-standing support of community broadband, and its current Broadband
Principles and other initiatives, NATOA filed an Amicus Brief before the
Minnesota Court of Appeals in the case of Bridgewater Telephone Company,
Inc. v. City of Monticello.
Bridgewater is suing the
City of Monticello to prevent the City from using revenue bonds to finance its
fiber to the home project. Earlier this
year, a Minnesota
trial court ruled in favor of the City that its fiber project should be
considered a “public convenience” for which revenue bonds could be utilized to
finance the project. NATOA’s brief
argues that not only is the fiber project a “public convenience,” but broadband
infrastructure should be considered a utility. In addition, NATOA’s brief
highlights the importance of broadband infrastructure as an economic,
educational, and social tool. Review the
City’s Brief.