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Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler is going to have a fight on his hands if he tries to pre-empt state laws that limit the growth of municipal broadband networks.
Matthew Berry, chief of staff to Republican Commissioner Ajit Pai, argued today that the FCC has no authority to invalidate state laws governing local broadband networks. In a speech in front of the National Conference of State Legislatures, Berry endorsed states' rights when it comes to either banning municipal broadband networks or preventing their growth. He also argued that the current commission, with its Democratic majority, should not do something that future Republican-led commissions might disagree with.
[Section 706 of The Telecommunications Act] http://www.psc.state.fl.us/publications/telecomm/trilogy/universa/706.aspx
(Score: 3, Interesting) by JNCF on Saturday August 23 2014, @01:13AM
Normally I'm for all for states' rights because the alternative is federal rights. I want to see power dispersed because power corrupts and, well, you know the rest. When a question is asked concerning who should make the rules, I always side with the most local governing body possible. What's funny about this situation is that the federal government is trying to prevent state governments from interfering with the rights of municipal governments. Obviously the only reasonable position for those who oppose tyranny to take is supporting the rights of municipal governments, but relying on the threat of force from the federal government to enforce municipal autonomy of law undermines that autonomy completely. Clearly, the only reasonable solution is to give every municipality a nuke.
What, we're not allowed to have our own internet?
Okay then, try and take it from us.