A group of US Senators is asking the FCC to dial back its support for local governments that wish to set up municipal ISPs.

The eight Senators, all Republicans, sent a letter [PDF] to FCC chairman Tom Wheeler asking that he provide more information on the FCC's recent actions on behalf of local governments who wished to set up their own networks, in violation of state laws that forbid competition with private carriers.

Those signing on to the bill include presidential candidate Marco Rubio and prominent Kansas senator Pat Roberts.

At issue is whether the FCC has the ability to overrule the state laws that prevent municipal networks in areas where established private companies (such as Comcast and AT&T) already offer broadband service.

The local governments and the FCC argue that the municipal networks fill a void in many cities where carriers are unable or uninterested in providing acceptable broadband coverage and connection speeds. The states, with the backing of the cable companies, argue that governments have no business using taxpayer money to compete with private firms that already fill a need.

The senators appear to fall firmly into the latter camp, lambasting Wheeler for what they see as a government incursion on the rights of states to regulate local business.

"It is vitally important to ensure that broadband service is made available to all Americans, particularly people in rural areas for whom a broadband connection is truly a lifeline," they write.

"However, the FCC is promoting government-owned networks at the possible expense of private-sector broadband providers – both incumbents and competitors – who have made strides to deploy networks throughout the country."

The letter goes on to ask Wheeler to provide data including how much money the FCC has given to municipal providers, whether the municipal networks would lead to cuts in universal service fund payments to private companies, and any additional policies or outreach programs the FCC has planned for the 2016 year. ®