The North Carolina bill is called the "Level Playing Field/Local Gov't Competition" act, intended to "protect jobs and investment by regulating local government competition." Opponents call it just the opposite—a cable industry-backed proposal intended to make it almost impossible for cities to build their own broadband networks.
Whatever you call it, H129 passed the state's House of Representatives on Monday 81 to 37. Its sponsor, Marilyn Avila (R-Wake), told WRAL TV that the legislation would protect businesses from "predatory" local governments that want to build their own ISPs. "We have to have some sort of framework that everybody understands when you go into this," she explained. "This bill is going to establish those rules."
Baloney, responded Rep. Bill Faison (D-Orange). The law will "make it practically impossible" for cities to provide a "fundamental service," he insisted. "Let's be clear about whose bill this is. This is Time Warner's bill."
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