WASHINGTON — On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission ruled to preempt two state laws that prevent municipalities from creating high-speed Internet networks to connect their residents. The ruling was in response to petitions brought before the agency by municipalities in North Carolina and Tennessee.

The FCC ruling could serve as a precedent for municipalities in other states seeking relief from prohibitive state-level restrictions. At least 20 states have laws on the books that severely limit community-based efforts to provide Internet access. Most of these bans resulted from intense statehouse lobbying from phone and cable companies.

Free Press Policy Director Matt Wood made the following statement:

"Chairman Wheeler should be applauded for promoting this common-sense policy. It's good to see the FCC standing up to phone and cable company efforts to legislate away competition and choice. By targeting these protectionist state laws, the FCC is siding with dozens of communities seeking to provide essential broadband services where people have few to no other options. This ruling will help spark innovation at the local level at a time when many Americans are frustrated with the quality of service provided by the likes of AT&T, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Verizon.   

"The industry's monopoly-minded push against local competition is typical of a lobby that will do anything to consolidate its control over access to communications. But it's in the best interests of Internet users, communities and local economies to have affordable and high-quality options for getting online.

"The broadband providers campaigning to regulate local choice are the same companies fighting oversight of their services at the federal level. The hypocrisy is stunning. Despite their claims to the contrary, regulation isn't truly the issue for these companies. They will say anything to increase their profits, even if it harms local communities. Today the FCC ruled to fulfill its duty to the public interest and put Internet users first."