Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers says governments looking to get into the broadband business must play by the same rules as private providers and educate citizens prior to starting a new communications network.

The Woodstock Republican has filed legislation that would prevent public broadband providers from paying for communication networks with tax or government revenue and from offering their services at prices that are below cost. Senate Bill 313 would also require local governments to hold hearings and a special election to become a public provider.

Rogers says cities like Tifton, Marietta and Acworth have tried unsuccessfully to be public providers, only to lose millions of dollars at taxpayer expense. He says the legislation levels the playing field for public and private broadband providers

Tags: Chip Rogers, Senate, broadband, public broadband