Rural Broadband Kick-Start Bill Clears NC Legislative Panel
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Lawmakers have taken their first substantive step this year in an effort to expand broadband to small-town and rural North Carolina through partnerships between local governments and internet providers.
A House committee voted Wednesday for the measure, which would allow 70 counties, and cities within them, to build infrastructure for lease to private broadband providers.
Local governments could raise property taxes to build the networks and offer grants to providers to expand in unserved areas.
The bill passed 13-9 despite opposition from telecommunications companies and associations that are unhappy with what they say would become unfair competition from governments.
Supporters say the private sector has failed in offering widespread high-speed internet in sparsely populated areas.
The bill must clear two more committees before it reaches the House floor.
Related News
From Archive
- Ohio trench collapse kills one worker, injures two during pipe installation
- California invests $590 million to boost water reliability, upgrade sewer systems statewide
- Inside Sempra’s 72-mile pipeline with 18 major trenchless crossings
- Dominion proposes 186-mile underground HVDC power line across Virginia
- Nueces River Authority plans 178-mile pipeline, desalination project for South Texas
- Glenfarne Alaska LNG targets late-2026 construction start for 807-mile pipeline project
- Massive water line failure leaves majority of Waterbury without service
- Infrastructure failure releases 100,000 gallons of wastewater in Houston; repairs ongoing
- Construction jobs stumble into 2026 after weak year
- Worm-like robot burrows underground to cut power line installation costs
Comments