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October 04, 2005
Open Letter to Congress Regarding Barton-Dingell Legislation
Dear Members of the House Commerce Committee:
On behalf of Civitium LLC, a technology consulting firm based in Georgia, I am writing to discuss the upcoming House Commerce Committee hearing on bipartisan draft legislation introduced by Congressmen Barton and Dingell.
Civitium advises communities interested in deploying metro-scale wireless broadband networks, and our current clients include the most high profile initiatives in the US. Currently, we are engaged by the cities of Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Portland, Miami Beach, and New Haven. Our firm has seen first hand how wireless broadband can be applied to strengthen economic development, promote digital inclusion, and streamline the cost of government.
Unfortunately, a number of states have prohibited communities from deploying wireless broadband networks. While private providers should be assured a level playing field for competition, local leaders need to have the local choice to assess their community’s broadband needs and respond appropriately.
In Section 409 of the proposed Barton Dingell bill, communities are allowed to deploy wireless broadband networks to meet the needs of their citizens and any existing state level prohibitions are overridden. As a conservative leader in Congress, we hope that you will support giving local leaders the authority they need to meet their community’s unique needs.
While most of the proposed legislation will strengthen communities and provide a framework to meet the President’s goal of universal broadband in 2007, Section 409(c) concerns cross-subsidization and we believe this subsection should be removed. While most communities do not find it politically expedient to form a public broadband utility and cross-subsidize it with tax dollars, many rural communities must decide between cross-subsidization for broadband or no broadband access at all. In this Information Age, communities should be able to provide the necessary infrastructure for global competition.
Please support local choice for community leaders and support the beneficial portions of Section 409 of the proposed Barton-Dingell bill.
Posted by Matt at October 4, 2005 09:33 PM