By Tyler Cooper

Telecom lobbyists have been doing their best to block municipal broadband networks. In spite of their efforts, public-owned Internet options continue to spread in towns throughout the US.

The data set below, based on records from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, shows 528 communities served by public-owned broadband networks in the US.

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Municipal broadband expanding despite restrictive state laws Considering that more than half of US residents only have one Internet service provider (ISP) to “choose” from, municipal broadband can be a game changer for rural areas where commercial ISPs can’t or won’t provide service. While the data is encouraging for municipal broadband advocates considering the FCC’s recent defeat in Tennessee and North Carolina, full-fledged city-wide networks like Chattanooga’s “smart grid” are rare. Only 96 of the community networks have confirmed “gig” status (speeds of 1000Mbps up/down). Implementing gig networks in the first place can be difficult, even when funded privately, thanks to a complex array of laws in 19 states.

Broadband: basic right or simply a convenience? The debate over municipal broadband boils down to this core issue: is home Internet a right, or a convenience? For those who consider home Internet access a right, it makes sense to implement municipal broadband to ensure widespread and fairly-priced coverage. White House reports cite studies showing that broadband access is “associated with higher employment rates, especially in rural communities,” as well as helpful in opening career opportunities to married women. Municipal broadband access attracts tech-driven companies to formerly declining cities like Chatanooga, where city-wide gig Internet has driven a community revival and drawn millions in venture capital to the area. For those who consider it a luxury, spending public resources is viewed as wasteful and unnecessary. It also has the potential to put public-owned networks in competition with private companies like Comcast and Time Warner Cable in areas like New York, interrupting free market forces. Fiber networks can cost millions to install, and returns are risky since unlike other utilities like electricity and water, there’s no guarantee that everyone in the community will sign up (regardless of whether or not private providers also serve the area.)





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Bridging the Digital Divide

The digital divide is becoming a major problem for consumers, and those left in the dark have less access to employment, education, and other 21st-century economies that depend on Internet connectivity.

Whether it comes from the private or public sector, one thing is for certain: the USA is lagging behind other developed nations, ranking only 13th for overall speed as of 2015. without increased competition in the broadband market, US consumers will be left with slow, expensive Internet.