Pennsylvania House about to pass a bill requiring phone companies etc. to offer broadband to everyone, including rural customers.
edit- here's an update
CONSUMERS FIRST! Urges Vote on Critical Telecom Bill; Amended Version of House Bill 30 Will Spur Deployment of Broadband Network
HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ --
HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania is poised to deliver on the promise of high-speed Internet access for schools and communities across the state as lawmakers begin final debate on a critical telecommunications bill, said Dr. David R. Wright, founder and president of CONSUMERS FIRST!
Wright congratulated the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee today for its vote to approve legislation designed to accelerate the delivery of high-speed Internet access across Pennsylvania. The coalition is urging the full Senate and House to follow with prompt action on House Bill 30 in the closing days of this legislative session.
"This legislation is a critical step forward for the state. It's the most aggressive approach for broadband network deployment in the country," said Wright. "After this becomes law, the state's phone companies will contribute directly to communities across the state, including funds that will go directly to schools to accelerate broadband deployment," Wright added.
The Committee approved an amendment offered by Sen. Jake Corman, R-Centre, who worked with telecommunications firms and lawmakers in both chambers to enhance consumer protections and spur quicker deployment of a broadband network across the state.
"Senator Corman's assessment that 'the world has changed since 1993' is right on the money," Wright noted. "His amendment reflects the changing nature of the telecommunications industry and it will continue to bolster the competition that we're already seeing here."
The legislation is a major win for the state's school districts. In addition, the phone companies have agreed to help consumers - residential and business - get together and aggregate demand for broadband access. The goal is to lure more consumers into the 21st Century more quickly while making it more economically feasible for the companies to deploy the network.
"This is a critical issue for Pennsylvania as we head into the information age. Without a broadband network across the state, one that is accessible to our schools, residents and businesses, we will fall behind as a state," said Wright a former lawmaker and co-author of the state's landmark telecommunications law enacted a decade ago.
"The goal in 1993 was to put the state at the forefront of the telecommunications revolution and, by all accounts, we did just that," Wright said. "But it is clear that more work needs to be done and I am convinced that this legislation will expedite deployment of the network and provide more affordable access to that network."
Last year, House members voted overwhelmingly by a 163-35 margin to approve House Bill 30, co-sponsored by Rep. Bill Adolph, R-Delaware, and Rep. Joseph Preston, D-Allegheny.
Wright said that the amendments to the bill should bolster that margin.
"The changes reflect a lot of hard work and some compromise by all the parties. I think House members will be pleased to support the changes mainly because the original goals are still the bedrock of the bill - to drive development of broadband access across the state."
CONSUMERS FIRST!, a citizen coalition supporting increased availability of broadband telecommunications services at affordable rates, has been working to secure passage of legislation to extend the state's landmark telecommunications statute enacted in 1993.
For more information, please visit paconsumersfirst.com.
CONSUMERS FIRST!
CONTACT: Dr. David R. Wright, CONSUMERS FIRST!, +1-814-226-6743
Web site: paconsumersfirst.com
Message 20774798 |
