Although many states are waging battles on Community Internet, federal legislation has been proposed to protect the power of municipalities to offer wireless broadband service.

In the Senate, Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) introduced the bipartisan Community Broadband Act of 2007 (S. 1853), which would prevent states from prohibiting municipalities from offering advanced telecommunications services. In the House, a bipartisan companion bill (H.R. 3281) has been introduced by Reps. Rick Boucher (D-Va.) and Fred Upton (R-Mich).

In addition to overriding current state laws that bar municipal broadband, these bills would require municipalities that currently offer telecommunications services to open their networks to competition from private providers. The bills would also provide the public with notice and an opportunity to be heard before a municipal broadband network is deployed.

Support the Community Broadband Act

At the FCC
As part of the transition to digital-only television, in January 2008, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) began auctioning off the part of the electromagnetic spectrum currently used by analog TV. Municipal wireless networks would benefit tremendously from being able to use these frequencies because of their ability to pass through obstructions, such as buildings and mountains.

Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union and Free Press filed comments urging the FCC to support competition and innovation during the auction process.

Find out more about the campaign to Save Our Spectrum.