Bill > S3649

This bill, the Community Broadband Act of 2020, aims to promote competition and preserve the ability of local governments (including states, political subdivisions, and Indian tribes) to provide broadband internet services and advanced telecommunications capabilities. The key provisions of the bill are: 1. It prohibits states, political subdivisions, or Indian tribes from enacting laws or regulations that prohibit or substantially inhibit public providers from offering telecommunications services or advanced telecommunications capabilities to the public or private entities. 2. It requires public providers that regulate competing providers to apply their rules and policies, such as those related to rights-of-way and permitting, without discrimination in favor of the public provider or any affiliated provider. 3. It encourages public providers to consider the potential benefits of public-private partnerships before providing telecommunications services or advanced capabilities to the public. 4. It restricts the use of federal funds to revive or renew a project that fails due to bankruptcy, unless the failure occurred in a jurisdiction subject to a major disaster declaration by the President. The bill defines important terms, such as "advanced telecommunications capability," "public provider," and "telecommunications service," to provide clarity and context.