Local Government Provision Of Communications Services

Joint Technology Committee. Current law regulates competition in local governments' provision of cable television service, telecommunications service, and high speed internet service, which is defined as "advanced service". As part of this regulation, a local government is prohibited from providing or operating a facility to provide cable television, telecommunications, or advanced service to subscribers unless the local government obtains voter approval for the local government's provision of such services. The bill:

• Replaces the term "advanced service" with "broadband internet service", which, as currently defined, does not reference the speed at which internet services are provided;
• Eliminates the requirement that a local government hold an election before providing or before operating a facility to provide cable television, telecommunications, or broadband internet services to subscribers;
• Eliminates the requirement that a local government hold an election to enter into a private partnership to allow a private provider to use local government facilities in connection with the private provider offering cable television service, telecommunications service, broadband internet service, or middle mile infrastructure.
• Specifies that a local government may provide middle mile infrastructure, which is broadband infrastructure that does not connect directly to an end-user location; and
• Modifies the definition of "broadband internet service" as currently defined in the law concerning intrastate telecommunications services ; and
• Repeals a definition that is no longer necessary.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)