FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has spoken several times about how he plans to preempt state laws that limit municipal broadband networks. In 20 states , there are legal restrictions making it tough for cities and towns to offer Internet service to residents.

Wheeler hasn't yet offered a specific proposal or time frame in which the FCC would take action, but yesterday he spoke on the topic again and detailed how the laws deprive some Americans of broadband Internet service. Wheeler wrote a blog post titled "Removing Barriers to Competitive Community Broadband" shortly after meeting with Mayor Andy Berke of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

EPB, a community-owned electric utility in Chattanooga, offers fiber Internet, TV, and phone service to residents. "Mayor Berke and the city’s leaders recognized that today’s high-speed broadband networks will be the indispensable platform for tomorrow’s economic growth and the jobs of the future. That’s why Chattanooga invested in building out one of the nation’s most robust community broadband networks," Wheeler wrote.

Yet the Chattanooga network can't expand because of state limits on municipal broadband. "Tennessee is one of many states that have placed limits on the deployment of community networks," Wheeler wrote. "Tennessee’s law is restricting Chattanooga from expanding its network’s footprint, inhibiting further growth. The mayor told me how adjoining communities have asked to join the network, but cannot also be served by a simple extension of the broadband network because of the state law. In some of these communities, there is no available broadband service whatsoever. Commercial broadband providers can pick and choose who to serve based on whether there is an economic case for it. On the other hand, Mayor Berke told me that Chattanooga believes that it has a duty to ensure that all of its citizens have affordable broadband Internet access."

So what will the FCC do? "I believe that it is in the best interests of consumers and competition that the FCC exercises its power to preempt state laws that ban or restrict competition from community broadband. Given the opportunity, we will do so," Wheeler wrote.

Wheeler first raised the possibility of preempting state laws that limit municipal broadband in February, arguing that the FCC is legally able to preempt the laws because of its authority to promote competition in local telecommunications markets. But the commission hasn't taken any official action yet. We asked the FCC today if there are any specific plans and will update this post if we get an answer.