ACLU Report Recommends Municipal Broadband

"The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has released a report encouraging local governments to provide public broadband to counteract the federal net neutrality repeal," reports Katie Pyzyk.

The report's value proposition for municipal internet includes references to privacy and net neutrality. On the former issue, municipal governments would have more oversight in protecting user privacy, and on the latter issue, municipal government can help maintain the democratic ideals of a free and open internet.

"The report suggests that a number of broadband investment options exist," according to Pyzyk. "A municipality can go "all in" and provide full internet service to each household, or it could require private telecom providers to respect free internet principles in order to use publicly owned assets such as pipes, tubes and other cable conduits."