The Georgia Bill, HB 282, is much shorter this year than it was last year but the goal remains the same: to effectively revoke the local decisionmaking authority of communities over whether a network investment is a wise decision. Those sponsoring this bill apparently believe that 1.5 Mbps (a slow DSL line) is sufficient for anyone, including businesses. If this bill passes, communities will lose a valuable option for encouraging economic development.

The bill is presently in the House Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee, roster available here.

In 2012, a Representative in Minnesota introduced what could be the most restrictive ban on community networks in the nation. Though it did not make it out of committee in 2012, we expect to see this bill, or a variant of it, again in 2013.