Community Broadband Act of 2017

Summary of the Bill

The Community Broadband Act of 2017 is a bill introduced in the Senate to promote competition and preserve the ability of local governments to provide broadband capability and services. It aims to prevent any legal requirements that would inhibit public providers from offering telecommunications services or advanced telecommunications capabilities to the public. The bill encourages public-private partnerships in providing these services and emphasizes public input and competitive bidding processes.

Key Points:

Short Title: This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Community Broadband Act of 2017’’.
Definitions: Provides definitions for key terms used in the Act.
Local Government Provision: States that no state or local law can prohibit public providers from offering telecommunications services.
Safeguards: Ensures that public providers do not discriminate in favor of their own services when regulating competing providers.
Public-Private Partnerships: Encourages public providers to consider partnerships before offering services.
Public Input and Bidding: Requires public providers to notify and seek input from residents and private entities before providing services, and allows private entities to bid for providing services.
Exemptions: Lists exceptions to the requirements of the bill, such as during emergencies or when services are not provided to the public.
Use of Federal Funds: Specifies conditions under which federal funds can be used for projects under this Act.

For more information, refer to the full text of the bill.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal

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