Will the Lege Shut Down Public Broadband?

Your Tax Dollars in Action

Although the high-profile matters this Lege session are the usual lightweights like public school finance, property taxes, and, of course, the budget, other questions – like the continuing controversies over how to regulate the high tech economy – are also in the mix. Among the most prominent are two bills filed by Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, that attempt to define telecommunications policy in the wake of a slew of new technologies that have transformed the industry. In their current form, HB 3179 and HB 789 would impose statewide standards that will erode cities’ influence over the telecom industry. Proponents, including such major telecom players as San Antonio-based SBC Communications, say the bills will remove barriers to local markets, thereby spurring robust competition. Critics, however, fear these bills will instead prematurely bar municipalities from implementing broadband initiatives, and thereby leave too many communities without broadband access.