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FCC Overrides State Laws Blocking City-Owned Broadband Service

"Greenlight" high speed internet service is provided by the City of Wilson, N.C. (Leoneda Inge/WUNC)
"Greenlight" high speed internet service is provided by the City of Wilson, N.C. (Leoneda Inge/WUNC)

The Federal Communications Commission today voted to override state laws blocking city-owned broadband companies from expanding and competing with commercial Internet providers.

At the center of this debate are communities like Wilson, North Carolina. The city, about 50 miles east of Raleigh, built its own broadband network before the state legislature prohibited cities from competing with private broadband providers.

Now, Wilson and other small communities can potentially get the economic muscle they need to expand. From the Here & Now Contributors Network, Leoneda Inge of North Carolina Public Radio reports.

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