Community Broadband Act of 2007 - Senate Commerce Releases Report
On April 22,
2008, the Senate Commerce Committee released its Committee Report on the Community
Broadband Act of 2007 (S. 1853). The report concluded that the legislation
would expand the availability and affordability of broadband service by
preempting laws in 15 states that ban or have the effect of banning the
provision of broadband services by public entities. However, the bill requires
public entities to publish notice of their intent to offer such services and to
allow private bids for such services. The bill, introduced by Senators
Lautenberg, Inouye, Kerry, McCain, McCaskill, Smith, Snowe, and Stevens was
approved by voice vote on October 30, 2007. It now awaits action by the full
Senate.
