The Virginia Senate passed a broadband bill on Tuesday endorsed by the Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware Association of Broadband Cooperatives, which will move to the House of Delegates for review. The Culpeper Star Exponent reported that Senate Bill 1029 would speed up the response process regarding fiber crossing railroad Rights-of-Way.
“Simply put: Virginians, especially in rural and remote communities, need this legislation,” said Casey Logan, chair of the Virginia broadband group. “We’ve still got work to do to pass this legislation and close the digital divide, but legislators sent an irrefutable message across our commonwealth that a commitment to bringing broadband to every Virginian who wants it is bipartisan and it is strong.”
State officials want to standardize the process, establishing a uniform 30-day review period for notices that broadband companies submit for railroad crossings, Inside Towers reported. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) sees things differently. The AAR would prefer to keep negotiations with broadband companies “private,” and some Virginia senators believe the railroad companies might challenge the law, reported The Culpeper Star Exponent.
Senator Bill Stanley, who proposed SB 1029, said it could help people in underserved rural areas conduct business and participate in telemedicine, among other benefits. He also said the bill fosters relationships between broadband groups and railroad companies.
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