Electric Co-Op Broadband Bills Clear Colorado Legislature, North Carolina Committees
State bills empowering electric cooperatives to provide broadband marched forward in Colorado and North Carolina. Colorado senators voted 33-2 Tuesday to re-pass a bill aimed at making it easier for rural electric co-ops to provide broadband. The House voted 62-2…
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to pass an amended SB-107 Monday. It goes next to Gov. Jared Polis (D), who has until June 3 to take up bills passed this session; SB-107 would become law without signature or veto. North Carolina's HB-387 and SB-310 cleared their respective Judiciary committees Tuesday. Removing barriers to rural broadband has “become a major initiative for the General Assembly,” as reflected by 89 bipartisan sponsors on HB-387, said Rep. Dean Arp (R) at the livestreamed House Judiciary hearing. Most rural areas of North Carolina have at most one provider, he said. Charter Communications and North Carolina Telephone Cooperative Coalition witnesses raised some concerns, including about possible cross-subsidization of broadband and electric businesses. Charter wants the same easement rights that the bill gives to electric co-ops, said Senior Director-Government Relations Brian Gregory.