Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled to overturn a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decision preempting state restrictions on municipal broadband networks. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, released the following statement today applauding the court’s decision:

“Today’s Sixth Circuit Court ruling addressed the FCC’s brazen overreach on municipal broadband. States are best positioned to understand the unique needs of their citizens and protect taxpayers from wasteful spending. The court’s decision upholds states’ rights to develop and implement their own fiscal and economic policies. Importantly, the ruling will also ensure that the FCC works with, not around, Congress as we to strive to deploy broadband across America.”

In December 2015, Senator Fischer led a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler expressing concerns about the FCC’s order preempting Tennessee and North Carolina state laws regulating government-owned broadband networks. In their letter, the senators stressed that the FCC should not impinge on states’ decisions about fiscal and economic policy. Click here to read the letter.

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