Bill Text: NJ SR98 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress to pass "Community Broadband Act."
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-11-05 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee [SR98 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-SR98-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator TROY SINGLETON
District 7 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress to pass "Community Broadband Act."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Senate Resolution respectfully urging Congress to pass the "Community Broadband Act."
Whereas, Access to broadband Internet service is increasingly recognized as an integral part of American life; and
Whereas, Communities that lack broadband Internet access face disadvantages in many areas, including economic growth, education, health care, public safety, and energy; and
Whereas, Approximately 30 percent of Americans do not have access to broadband Internet in their homes because they are underserved by private broadband Internet providers; and
Whereas, Communities across the country have remedied the lack of broadband Internet service to their residents by establishing community broadband Internet networks, which are administered by counties or municipalities and deliver fast, affordable, and reliable high-speed Internet service; and
Whereas, Community broadband networks increase competition in markets where there are often few Internet service providers, offer more choices to residents, and increase opportunities for economic growth; and
Whereas, In 2010, recognizing the importance of broadband Internet access, the Federal Communications Commission implemented the National Broadband Plan, which is designed to increase competition among broadband Internet service providers, increase broadband Internet deployment to low-income and rural areas, and reform law and policy to maximize the benefits of broadband Internet; and
Whereas, Community broadband Internet networks help to further the mandate of the National Broadband Plan to provide broadband Internet access to all residents of the country; and
Whereas, Often as a result of the lobbying efforts of private broadband Internet service providers, certain states have enacted legislation to prohibit or put restrictions on communities from establishing community broadband Internet networks; and
Whereas, States should not preclude communities from exploring all options available for the provision of broadband Internet service to residents and businesses; and
Whereas, New Jersey has not enacted legislation prohibiting community broadband Internet networks; and
Whereas, It is all together fitting and proper for this House, and in the public interest, to respectfully urge Congress to pass the "Community Broadband Act of 2019" to end restrictions on the establishment of community broadband Internet networks; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Senate of the State of New Jersey respectfully urges the Congress of the United States to pass House Bill No. 2785 of 2019-2020, known as the "Community Broadband Act of 2019."
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed by the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution respectfully urges Congress to pass House Bill No. 2785 of 2019-2020, known as the "Community Broadband Act of 2019." Access to the Internet is becoming recognized as an integral part of American life but some communities are underserved by private broadband Internet service providers. Communities that lack broadband Internet access face disadvantages in many areas, including economic growth, education, health care, public safety, and energy. To address this deficiency, some communities have established community broadband Internet networks, which are administered by counties or municipalities and deliver fast, affordable, and reliable broadband Internet service. Community broadband Internet networks increase competition in markets where there are often few broadband Internet service providers, offer more choices to residents, and spur economic growth.
Often as a result of the lobbying efforts of private broadband Internet service providers, certain states have enacted legislation to prohibit or put restrictions on communities from establishing community broadband Internet networks. This resolution supports Congress in ensuring that states should not preclude communities from exploring all options available for the provision of broadband Internet service to residents and businesses.
