Fast-speed broadband bill eyed in Nashville

I worked a lot over the weekend on possible compromise language."

NASHVILLE -- Faced with opposition from AT&T, Comcast and other investor-owned telecommunications companies, state Rep. Kevin Brooks is offering a compromise in hopes of salvaging his bill allowing municipally-owned utilities to expand their fast-speed broadband offerings outside existing service areas.

Tennessee State Sen. Janice Bowling, R-Tullahoma

"I worked a lot over the weekend on possible compromise language," Brooks, R-Cleveland, said Monday.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Janice Bowling, R-Tullahoma, in the Senate, is scheduled to come today before both the House Business and Utilities Subcommittee and Senate Commerce Committee.

Earlier Monday, Jeremy Elrod, director of government relations for the Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association (TMEPA), said opposition from telecommunications companies threatens to crush the measure.

"If a community wants better broadband service, faster speeds, more competition, and more choices, it should have access to them," Elrod said in a statement.

Elrod said that "whether the service is from a private or municipal provider, a local community should be able to decide for itself how broadband is offered. Right now the private incumbent providers are deciding for communities and consumers, telling them to be happy with whatever they get offered."

Tennessee State Rep. Kevin Brooks (R-Cleveland) participates in a Chattanooga Times Free Press legislative roundtable in this file photo.

Brooks said support for the measure began wavering over the weekend. He said he couldn't say whether that was due to the telecommunications companies' opposition.

The amendment, Brooks said, would "possibly allow, if accepted, service to unserved areas or areas that will not be served in the very near future. If this really is about broadband to people who don't have broadband, I'm trying to put this amendment on to see if we can garner more support."

His bill originally called for Chattanooga-based EPB and other muni-owned power distributors to expand into areas where other public power distributors agree. The service includes fast-speed broadband and video.

Earlier this month, the Federal Communications Commission ruled in favor of a complaint brought by EPB and the city of Wilson, N.C., which charged their attempts to extend broadband had been stymied by the political power of companies like AT&T and Comcast.

But Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery on March 20 appealed the FCC's ruling to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, accusing federal regulators of overreach.

In their decision, FCC members said legislative efforts by municipally owned utilities to offer broadband service in Tennessee have for years been blocked at the state level.

AT&T and other companies argue that they should not be competing with government entities. Proponents, however, say many people are going unserved or underserved with an impact on economic development and other areas.

Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550.