Google, Netflix Join Forces To Fight Virginia’s Municipal Broadband Restriction

Google and Netflix along with some advocacy groups join forces to fight the bill which will prohibit the municipal broadband deployment in Virginia unless under limited circumstances. The opposed group argues the restriction will ban new public broadband networks.

Supported by the advocacy groups, Google and Netflix send the letter to State House Commerce Committee Chairman Terry Kilgore to oppose the bill as reported by Ars Technica.

"Virginia Broadband Deployment Act" was proposed by Republican Delegates Kathy Byron to Virginia House of Delegates through a lobbying group from Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association. The bill will restrict the municipal or city ability to provide broadband network, if the existing ISP is already able to provide the Internet connection with threshold speed at 10Mbps downstream and 1Mbps upstream to 90 percent potential customers in the area.

It will limit the competition from Internet providers which will give existing ISP the ability to control the price and monopolize the Internet access. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has promised to veto the bill as reported by Roanoke News, as the spokesperson to governor McAuliffe, Bill McCoy said in an email sent to media.

"Governor is working hard to expand access to the broadband internet across the Commonwealth. That goal requires fostering competition, not stifling it," McCoy stated.

Currently, the State of Virginia has one law which regulates the broadband network deployment. The new proposed bill will further limit the high-speed internet connections to Virginia.

The bill will also threaten the project from Roanoke Valley Broadband Authority to continue building its 47-mile broadband network in Roanoke to Salem. The city of Roanoke has prepared the budget of $9.6 million for construction for the project, along with operating costs for six years. The project is expected to bring more broadband access to the citizen in City of Roanoke at an affordable price.

Watch the report from Comcast regarding digital divide in America below:

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Internet, Virginia, Broadband restriction, Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe

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