Local leaders know best the issues facing their communities and how to address the concerns and needs of the people who live there. Stripping away burdensome regulation and statutes that create barriers to growth and development can give important power back to local governments, support our towns and cities, and strengthen the economy.
This is particularly true with expanding access to high-speed internet connectivity, which is why I joined with Senator Cory Booker to introduce the Community Broadband Act. The bill would preserve and protect the rights of cities and localities to invest in local broadband infrastructure and amend the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to ban any state statute or regulation that prohibits communities from investing in high-speed internet. In effect, the bill would help reinforce that all financing options should be on the table to improve broadband infrastructure — including private investment, local and state bonds, and federal funding.
In Maine, we are already seeing the potential of locally-led initiatives to develop broadband infrastructure. In 2015, Rockport launched Maine’s first municipally-owned, open-access, ultra-fast fiber optic internet network. The “High Tech Harbor” project delivers capacity up to 100 times faster than a regular broadband connection to area homes and businesses. Since then, South Portland has announced that it intends to partner with local and private stakeholders to build a gigabit network, and Sanford has also announced plans to build the biggest municipal broadband project in the state. The city has proposed a 32-mile open-access loop that will extend the Three Ring Binder network — a fiber internet highway built with federal and private funding that runs from York to Madawaska — and also provide speeds over 100 times faster than what is currently available.
The local leadership in Rockport, South Portland and Sanford is a model of public-private cooperation that will open doors of opportunity and can help connect rural communities. Rural and low-income communities continue to face unique barriers to broadband access, and in many cases, local public investment is part of an affordable, reliable solution to improving broadband infrastructure, building upon investments made by the private sector. At a time when local governments are increasingly looking for ways to ensure their communities are connected and have access to advanced, reliable networks, demand for community investment in broadband is dramatically increasing.
The Community Broadband Act will support local choice throughout Maine and the country and help towns and cities participate with state, federal, and private stakeholders in locally-led broadband efforts. Broadband expansion enhances economic development, improves access to education, health care and other critical services, and provides increased opportunities in underserved areas. This bill is an important step forward in expanding broadband infrastructure, strengthening the power of our local institutions, and ensuring that high-speed internet access is available to all Americans.
