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Senate committee approves bill letting cities finance and own broadband infrastructure, not operate service
Summary
The Senate Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development Committee adopted an amendment and voted to pass Senate Bill 74, which would allow Arkansas cities to finance and own broadband infrastructure (as collateral for bonds or via sales tax measures) while prohibiting municipal operation of retail service.
Senate Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development Committee members voted to pass Senate Bill 74, as amended, after hearing testimony that the measure would let cities finance and own broadband infrastructure while requiring private partners to deliver retail service.
Senator Ricky Hill, vice chair of the committee, introduced the bill and an amendment, saying the measure is designed to "ease restrictions on some broadband and increase competition." Hill told members the bill would allow "cities to do a bond to build the infrastructure" and that the built infrastructure could serve as collateral for such bonds, while "it does not allow them to provide the service." He said cities could opt to finance projects by bond or sales tax…
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