The High Tech Broadband Coalition announced Thurs. it would oppos...

other states, like Tex., Colo., Ia. and Fla. are eyeing similar bills. While HTBC acknowledged concern about municipal networks, it said local govts. should be able to “find solutions that are open, transparent, and reasonably competitively neutral.” Many municipalities are considering such networks, HTBC said. “Often, these municipal efforts are intended to complement wireline and cable networks by extending reach to areas that these incumbent networks do not, or cannot, reach,” HTBC said. Its policy position paper said “no statewide statutory barriers to municipal participation, whether explicit or de facto, should be erected.” HTBC said municipalities should have flexibility to set up their own networks, or partner with the private sector. “As a general guideline, however, municipalities should first assess unmet needs, underserved areas, and future requirements, as well as develop a technology-neutral requirements document,” the HTBC said. HTBC also said municipal efforts shouldn’t get preferred access to rights-of-way or other favored treatment. On Wed., House Telecom Subcommittee Chmn. Upton (R-Mich.) said municipal networks probably would emerge as a topic in the telecom reform debate. He said he believed an amendment to upcoming legislation on IP networks would limit municipalities’ right to establish their own networks. House Rural Caucus Chmn. Peterson (R-Pa.) recently said he was frustrated by the slow roll-out of advanced services to rural areas and would support municipalities’ right to build their own networks. HTBC includes the TIA, Business Software Alliance, Consumer Electronics Assn., Information Technology Industry Council, National Assn. of Manufacturers and Semiconductor Industry Assn.