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telecommunications policy that allows <br />new technologies to flourish while <br />preserving local regulatory authority. <br />Regulations and oversight of <br />telecommunication services are important <br />prerogatives for local government to <br />advance community interests, including <br />the provision of high quality basic <br />services that meet local needs, spur <br />economic development, and are available <br />at affordable rates to all consumers. <br />Policies should not diminish local <br />authority to manage public rights -of -way, <br />to zone, to collect compensation for the <br />use of public assets, or to work <br />cooperatively with the private sector. The <br />League opposes the adoption of state and <br />federal policies that restrict cities' ability <br />to finance, construct, and operate <br />telecommunications networks. <br />LE-16. Broadband <br />Issue: State broadband goals were <br />established during the 2010 legislative <br />session under Minn. Stat. § 237.012 to <br />achieve minimum standards for statewide <br />broadband deployment and speed goals by <br />2015. Although incremental progress has <br />been made, the state is not on track to meet <br />the statutorily outlined goals. <br />There is increasing evidence and recognition <br />at both the state and federal level that cities <br />play a vital role in achieving significantly <br />higher broadband speeds and capacity to <br />ensure a robust, affordable Internet <br />connectivity that is universally available. <br />However, attempts have been made in <br />Minnesota and other states to restrict or stop <br />cities from facilitating the deployment of <br />broadband services or forming partnerships <br />with private sector companies to provide <br />broadband services to unserved or <br />underserved residents or businesses. <br />Restricting municipal authority is contrary <br />to existing state law on electric utility <br />service, telecommunications, and economic <br />development. <br />Response: The Legislature, governor's <br />office, and state agencies must make it a <br />priority to respond promptly to develop <br />policies and programs aimed at making it <br />possible to achieve substantially increased <br />speed and capacity of broadband services <br />available at the local level. <br />To achieve these goals, the Legislature <br />and state agencies should: <br />a) Identify and implement actions to <br />achieve the goal of statewide <br />deployment of advanced broadband <br />networks capable of delivering <br />symmetrical high-speed capacity; <br />b) Encourage public/private <br />collaboration to achieve state <br />broadband goals, including <br />partnerships and cooperation in <br />providing last -mile connections; <br />c) Support measures to authorize and <br />encourage cities and other local units <br />of government to play a direct role in <br />providing broadband services; <br />d) Remove barriers to the exercise of <br />local authority to provide such <br />services, including repeal of Minn. <br />Stat. § 237.19, that requires a <br />supermajority voter approval for the <br />provision of local phone service by a <br />local unit of government; <br />e) Offer incentives to private sector <br />service providers to respond to local <br />or regional needs and to collaborate <br />with cities and other public entities to <br />deploy broadband infrastructure <br />capable of delivering sufficient <br />bandwidth and capacity to meet <br />immediate and future local needs; <br />f) Clarify that cities have the authority <br />to partner with private entities to <br />finance broadband infrastructure <br />using city bonding authority; <br />League of Minnesota Cities <br />2015 City Policies Page 56 <br />