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The Municipal Broadband Compact
By Larry Hendrick | October 20, 2006
Late last year, a large group of people convened an online meeting to discuss the rash of cities jumping onto the Muni WiFi band wagon. In the course of the meeting, a compact was devised of a preamble, findings, principles and recommendations. Below I have listed the recommendations from that document.
Reason Foundation - The Municipal Broadband Compact
Recommendations
To optimize broadband deployment, we recommend the following:
1. Access to broadband can often be expanded by eliminating unnecessary regulations that delay, raise the cost, or even effectively ban the construction of new network facilities.
2. Municipalities and other local units of government should be prohibited from investing in, managing or operating broadband infrastructure and services.
3. Congress should restrict the authority of states to regulate and tax broadband infrastructure and services in the interest of preserving interstate commerce.
4. Telecom taxes and cable franchise fees should be eliminated to encourage investment in broadband services.
If you really want to help and encourage companies to deploy the necessary equipment for cost effective Internet access, send your city representatives to this location for additional information, including FAQs (frequently asked questions) that public officials should ask before launching into such an endeavor.