ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how municipal initiatives navigate state restrictions on municipal broadband. In 2023, at least sixteen states limited municipal broadband in a variety of ways – such as requiring communities to obtain voter approval in a referendum, prohibiting service delivery outside of municipal boundaries, and only allowing municipal electric utilities to offer broadband. “Unserved areas” are often exempt from these restrictions, and the new federal BEAD legislation specifically allows municipal broadband. Communities are exploring public ownership to address issues like service quality, universal coverage, and affordability. The cases in this chapter from Florida, Pennsylvania, and Virginia illustrate the value of public–private partnerships in allowing communities to move forward, even in states where municipal ownership is restricted.
