[1st-mile-nm] 43 Colorado Communities to Vote on Better Broadband Today

[Richard Lowenberg]

43 Colorado Communities to Vote on Better Broadband

Fri, October 30, 2015 | Posted by Tom Ernste

http://muninetworks.org/content/let-it-be-local-43-colorado-communities-vote-better-broadband

One year ago, a wave started in Colorado as voters in a handful of 
communities chose to reclaim the local telecommunications authority 
revoked by CenturyLink lobbyists in 2005. This year, the wave is even 
bigger.

Colorado Communities Want the Choice

As 2015 election day approaches, voters in 43 Colorado communities are 
on track to keep the momentum going across the state. A total of 17 
counties, 26 towns, and at least 3 school districts are taking the issue 
to voters, reports the Colorado Municipal League. Referendums to opt out 
of restrictive SB 152 will take place across the state, much to the 
chagrin of big ISPs who spent millions in lobbying dollars to get the 
bill passed.

In 2014, nine communities overwhelmingly chose to reclaim local 
authority. Some of those communities, including Boulder and Rio Blanco 
County, are taking steps forward. The intention of the referendums were 
primarily to take back a local right hijacked by the state legislature 
in 2005 and some communities may never take any action.

(snip)


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Richard Lowenberg, Executive Director
1st-Mile Institute     505-603-5200
Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504,
rl at 1st-mile.org     www.1st-mile.org
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