Broadband measure heads to governor

The House of Representatives gave final legislative approval Tuesday to a measure that would allow cities to provide broadband service.

As it did in the Senate, Senate Bill 150 by Sen. Breanne Davis, R-Russellville, received unanimous support in the House, passing 98-0. It now heads to Gov. Asa Hutchinson to be signed into law, which a spokesman said Hutchinson intends to do.

The bill amends the Telecommunications Regulatory Reform Act of 2013, freeing government entities to provide broadband on their own or in cooperation with a private company.

[RELATED: Complete Democrat-Gazette coverage of the Arkansas Legislature]

Rep. DeAnn Vaught, R-Horatio, the bill's House sponsor, said on the House floor Tuesday that the bill would allow cities and other entities to apply for millions in federal grants.

She also noted that Arkansas ranks near the bottom in Internet service quality. BroadbandNow.com ranks Arkansas as 45th in the nation with an average Internet connection speed of 28.3 megabits per second. New Jersey has the highest average speed, at 58.1 Mbps.

-- Hunter Field

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