s_blt_2017a_2017-02-13t14:05:01z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 02/13/2017

Location: SCR 354

02:05 PM -- SB 17-042



Senator Guzman and Senator Donovan introduced Senate Bill 17-042, concerning the repeal of existing restrictions on the ability of a local government to provide certain electronic communications services. Under current law local governments are prohibited from providing cable television, telecommunication services, or high speed internet generally, without first receiving voter approval. Local governments that do provide these services must comply will all state and federal laws, rules, and regulations governing the service by a private provider and may not grant preferences or discriminate in the provision of the services. This bill repeals these restrictions and allows local governments to provide cable television, telecommunication services, or high speed internet without having to obtain voter approval. The sponsors provided a packet of handouts to the committee (Attachments A, B, and C).



170213 AttachA.pdf170213 AttachB.pdf170213 AttachC.pdf



02:17 PM -- Norm Steen, Colorado Counties, Inc. (CCI), spoke in support of the bill and provided a handout to the committee (Attachment D). Mr. Steen responded to questions from the committee.



170213 AttachD.pdf



02:26 PM -- Blake Mobley, Rio Blanco County, spoke in support of the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.



02:34 PM -- Lynn Black, San Miguel County, spoke in support of the bill. She responded to questions from the committee.



02:39 PM -- Lynn Padgett, San Miguel County, spoke in support of the bill. She responded to questions from the committee.



02:45 PM -- Miriam Gillow-Wiles, Southwest Colorado Council of Governments, spoke in support of the bill.



02:49 PM -- Roger Zalneraitis, La Plata County Economic Development Alliance, spoke in support of the bill.



02:53 PM -- Jared Musterson, East Central BOCES, spoke in support of the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.



02:59 PM -- Lew Gaiter, CCI, Larimer County Commissioner, spoke in support of the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.



03:09 PM -- Eric Bergman, CCI, spoke in support of the bill.



03:11 PM -- Drew Davis, Larimer County, spoke in support of the bill.



03:16 PM -- Ken Fellman, Colorado Communications and Utility Alliance, spoke in support of the bill.



03:22 PM -- Nick Colglazer, Colorado Competitive Council, spoke in opposition to the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.



03:33 PM -- Tim Miles, Steamboat Springs School District, spoke in support of the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.



03:40 PM -- Jeff Hart, Colorado Common Cause, spoke in support of the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.



03:45 PM -- Pete Kirchhoff, Colorado Telecommunications Association, spoke in opposition to the bill. He provided a handout to the committee (Attachment E).



170213 AttachE.pdf



03:48 PM -- Kevin Bommer Colorado Municipal League, spoke in support of the bill.



03:51 PM -- Jeff Weist, Colorado Cable Telecommunications Association, spoke in opposition to the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.



03:59 PM



Senator Donovan made closing comments on the merits of the bill. She responded to questions from the committee.

04:12 PM



The committee took a recess.