Google and Netflix joined a handful of advocacy groups and other companies lobbying against a proposed Virginia state law that would make it far more difficult for municipalities to offer Internet service.

As we previously reported, the "Virginia Broadband Deployment Act" would prohibit municipal broadband deployments except in very limited circumstances. For example, localities wouldn't be allowed to offer Internet service to residents if an existing network already provides 10Mbps download and 1Mbps upload speeds to 90 percent of potential customers. Even if that condition is met, municipalities would have to jump through several legal hoops before being allowed to build a network.

"This bill would effectively ban new public broadband networks and public-private partnerships and cripple existing ones, harming both the public and private sectors, retarding economic growth, preventing the creation or retention of jobs around the Commonwealth, particularly in rural areas, hampering work force development, and diminishing the quality of life in Virginia," bill opponents including Google and Netflix wrote in a letter last week to State House Commerce Committee Chairman Terry Kilgore, a Republican.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, promised to veto the bill, according to The Roanoke Times.

Google Fiber has brought gigabit broadband to eight metro areas, but it's scaling back and has complained that local regulations make it difficult for newcomers to challenge incumbent ISPs. Netflix has a less direct connection to the municipal broadband battle, but the company would benefit from more customers having the speeds necessary to stream high-definition video.

In addition to Google and Netflix, the letter was signed by Atlantic Engineering, the Coalition for Local Internet Choice, CTC Energy & Technology, the Fiber to the Home Council, Indeed, the Internet Association, the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, Next Century Cities, Nokia, OnTrac, the Telecommunications Industry Association, Ting Internet, and the Utilities Technology Council.

Cities and towns with speeds limited to 10Mbps/1Mbps "cannot realistically hope to attract or retain modern businesses or provide their residents, particularly their young people, a reason to stay in them," the letter to Kilgore said. "These communities will be condemned to economic stagnation or worse—like the 'ghost towns' that died a century ago for lack of adequate electricity."

The Virginia legislation was proposed by Republican lawmaker Kathy Byron, and it was referred to the Commerce Committee, which will discuss it at a hearing tomorrow.

"A number of local governments have already passed resolutions condemning the legislative attack on their right to make local telecommunications decisions and we expect to see more," the Institute for Local Self-Reliance's Community Networks project wrote Monday. The 10Mbps/1Mbps speeds specified in the legislation are "reminiscent of antiquated DSL," the group said.