Any attempt by the FCC to preempt state...

Any attempt by the FCC to preempt state laws that make it harder for municipalities to create broadband networks (CD Feb 24 p1) “would undermine local government accountability to state governments and to taxpayers” and be illegal, said the Free State Foundation Wednesday (http://bit.ly/1dzYdG4). FSF Scholar Seth Cooper said stripping states’ control over their cities and counties would violate constitutional federalism principles. Nearly 20 states laws limit municipal-backed broadband networks, and “prevent local government conflicts of interest with the private sector marketplace competitors who invest tens of millions of dollars in localities to build out their broadband networks,” wrote Cooper. “They also protect local taxpayers from potentially devastating financial losses from poorly-run municipal broadband projects."