NE Ga Senator introduces broadband bill

A state lawmaker from Lumpkin County pre-files a bill designed to help rural Georgia get better access to high speed internet: state Senator Steve Gooch, a Republican from Dahlonega, says his Senate Bill 2 would authorize Electric Membership Corporations to deploy broadband services throughout Georgia. His bill is filed in advance of the legislative session that begins Monday beneath the Gold Dome in Atlanta.

“As a champion for broadband expansion over the past three years, I am proud to sponsor this legislation which will ensure that all Georgians have access to fast, reliable internet,” said Sen. Gooch. “Expanding broadband access to all of our citizens continues to be a top priority. By enabling EMCs to deploy these services to areas of the state that have limited or no broadband access at all, we can create a competitive marketplace. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues, our friends in the House and all interested parties on legislation that will continue the progress we already made with Senate Bill 402.”

Senate Bill 2 would allow EMCs to provide internet services and broadband to their customers, in addition to supplying electrical energy. The corporations would be able to provide these additional services either directly or indirectly through a broadband affiliate. This legislation is similar to Senate Bill 232, the “Facilitating Internet Broadband Rural Expansion (FIBRE) Act,” which was filed in 2017 and passed out of the Senate during the 2018 session.