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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: James M. Dawes Communications Director Professional Licensure Committee |
State Rep. Mike Sturla D-Lancaster Majority Deputy Whip Chairman, Professional Licensure Committee |
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Sturla bill would permit municipal wireless Internet systems
HARRISBURG, Feb. 22 – State Rep. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, has introduced a bill (H.B. 327) that would allow municipalities and their authorities to develop wireless Internet access systems within their communities.
“My bill would empower municipalities to establish municipal wireless Internet systems and keep their communities in line with technological advances,” Sturla said. “The municipalities’ main goal would be to provide low-cost, dependable Internet access to all their residents and businesses.”
Sturla noted that hundreds of municipalities throughout the country are in the process of developing municipal wireless Internet systems. Philadelphia, Kutztown, Wilkes-Barre, and a few other Pennsylvania municipalities are also implementing wireless internet access systems because they were already in the planning stages before Act 183 of 2004. Act 183 essentially ended municipalities’ ability to build these systems.
“With a few municipalities in Pennsylvania already ‘grandfathered in’ to create these wireless Internet systems, we should allow other municipalities to utilize this technology to be fair,” Sturla said.
Authorities established by municipalities include Neighborhood Improvement Districts, Councils of Governments and Downtown Improvement Districts.
House Bill 327 has been referred to the House Consumer Affairs Committee.
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