Muni Broadband Advocate Condemns Michigan Bill
A Michigan bill banning municipal broadband networks drew outrage from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. HB-5099, introduced last week by Rep. Michele Hoitenga (R), would ban local governments from spending any federal, state or local funds or loans to pay…
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for internet infrastructure. It would allow a locality to partner with companies to provide internet service of “at least 10 Mbps upstream and 1 Mbps downstream,” the reverse direction of what’s common. The bill “would leave many communities without any hope of better Internet access, leaving their businesses less competitive, children disadvantaged, and property value declining,” said ILSR Community Broadband Networks Director Christopher Mitchell in a Tuesday news release. Hoitenga didn’t comment.