Update: On Feb. 26, the Federal Communications Commission made some historic rulings. It decided to regulate the Internet like a utility and voted to allow two cities, Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Wilson, North Carolina, to expand their broadband services. That leaves many more cities fighting for the same rights.
Could you live without the Internet? If you’re reading this, the answer is probably not.
Today, a high-speed connection is as necessary as electricity. It’s a vital part of economic growth in America because businesses need it to run, well, business.
Reveal hears from residents of two towns at the heart of a nationwide battle over access to fast and reliable Internet. It’s the telecom giants versus municipalities that want control over their community networks.
Reporter Allan Holmes of The Center for Public Integrity investigates the influence of the telecommunications industry. He’s been reporting on the fight over municipal broadband for the last year.
DIG DEEPER
- Read the story behind this story at PublicIntegrity.org.
- Find more of CPI’s broadband reporting here.