I have mentioned HF4182 (Equal Access to Broadband Act established) before, but they met yesterday to talk more about it and sent it to the House State and Local Government Finance and Policy Committee. The MN Session Daily reports on HF4182

Rep. Mike Freiberg (DFL-Golden Valley) sponsors HF4182 with an eye on accelerating the delivery of broadband internet access to rural areas. The House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee approved the bill Monday on a 10-6 party-line vote and sent it to the House State and Local Government Finance and Policy Committee.

It would allow local governments to negotiate franchise agreements for broadband providers’ use of the public right-of-way.

That follows the very successful model of franchising cable TV providers that started nearly 40 years ago, Freiberg said. That’s when cities collected fees from cable TV companies who wanted the right to connect their services to city residents’ households.

“Each local government has unique needs for broadband deployment,” he said. “This bill allows local officials the option to franchise broadband and [internet service providers] in the public right-of-way.”

Republican objections to the bill focused on what they said were insufficient safeguards that the money generated by cities would be used as intended to benefit city residents.

Rep. Isaac Schultz (R-Elmdale Township) said the bill would set up “a revenue slush fund for local governments.”