
Powell
Georgia’s House of Representatives on Thursday killed a bill that would have made community-owned broadband networks difficult to build and impossible to expand.
House Bill 282 failed with a bipartisan vote — 94 against and 70 for, with the help of Democrats and rural Republicans who represent poorly wired districts.
The measure would have made Georgia the 20th state to place impediments on public broadband networks, usually built in areas where incumbent providers have failed to offer good service.
Rep. Jay Powell (R-Camilla) told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he voted against the measure because the lack of broadband has already cost his community economic development opportunities.
“You cannot get it, you cannot keep it without high speed fiber,” Powell said. The provider, he said, “ wouldn’t provide it because they knew they didn’t have to. They provided whatever crumbs from the table they wanted.”
The majority of those voting for the broadband ban were Republicans, but a curious block of mostly urban Democratic legislators also supported the bill.
Stop the Cap! encourages Georgia readers to reach out to these elected officials and let them know you are disappointed with the way they voted on this measure. It is more likely than not that another version of this bill will be introduced next year, making it critical that likely supporters of anti-broadband bills have an ample warning in advance you will be watching them:
Alex Atwood (R – Brunswick) District 179
- Mandi L. Ballinger (R – Canton) District 23
- Timothy Barr (R – Lawrenceville) District 103
- Ellis Black (R – Valdosta) District 174
- Buzz Brockway (R – Lawrenceville) District 102
- Bob Bryant (D – Garden City) District 162
- Jon G. Burns (R – Newington) District 159
- John Carson (R – Marietta) District 46
- David Casas (R – Lilburn) District 107
- Joyce Chandler (R – Lawrenceville) District 105
- Mickey Channell (R – Greensboro) District 120
- Mike Cheokas (R – Americus) District 138
- Christian Coomer (R – Cartersville) District 14
- Sharon Cooper (R – Marietta) District 43
- Robert Dickey (R – Musella) District 140
- Matt Dollar (R – Marietta) District 45
- Mike Dudgeon (R – Johns Creek) District 25
- Geoff Duncan (R – Cumming) District 26
- Earl Ehrhart (R – Powder Springs) District 36
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Virgil Fludd: Voted against community broadband.
Virgil Fludd (D – Tyrone) District 64
- Carol Fullerton (D – Albany) District 153
- Mike Glanton (D – Jonesboro) District 75
- Mark Hamilton (R – Cumming) District 24
- Ben Harbin (R – Evans) District 122
- Brett Harrell (R – Snellville) District 106
- Calvin Hill (R – Canton) District 22
- Bill Hitchens (R – Rincon) District 161
- Penny Houston (R – Nashville) District 170
- Mike Jacobs (R – Brookhaven) District 80
- Rick Jasperse (R – Jasper) District 11
- Jan Jones (R – Milton) District 47
- Sheila Jones (D – Atlanta) District 53
- Darryl Jordan (D – Riverdale) District 77
- David Knight (R – Griffin) District 130
- Edward Lindsey (R – Atlanta) District 54
- Chuck Martin (R – Alpharetta) District 49
- Howard Maxwell (R – Dallas) District 17
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O’Neal: Voted to protect incumbent providers.
Rahn Mayo (D – Decatur) District 84
- Billy Mitchell (D – Stone Mountain) District 88
- Alisha Thomas Morgan (D – Austell) District 39
- Greg Morris (R – Vidalia) District 156
- Chad Nimmer (R – Blackshear) District 178
- Larry O`Neal (R – Bonaire) District 146
- Butch Parrish (R – Swainsboro) District 158
- Don Parsons (R – Marietta) District 44
- Allen Peake (R – Macon) District 141
- Alan Powell (R – Hartwell) District 32
- Jimmy Pruett (R – Eastman) District 149
- Matt Ramsey (R – Peachtree City) District 72
- Nikki T. Randall (D – Macon) District 142
- Tom Rice (R – Norcross) District 95
- Jay Roberts (R – Ocilla) District 155
- Carl Rogers (R – Gainesville) District 29
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Smith: A business owner that doesn’t mind if rural Georgia is left behind.
Ed Rynders (R – Albany) District 152
- Jason Shaw (R – Lakeland) District 176
- Donna Sheldon (R – Dacula) District 104
- Barbara Sims (R – Augusta) District 123
- Earnest Smith (D – Augusta) District 125
- Lynn Smith (R – Newnan) District 70
- Calvin Smyre (D – Columbus) District 135
- Jason Spencer (R – Woodbine) District 180
- Ron Stephens (R – Savannah) District 164
- Valencia Stovall (D – Ellenwood) District 74
- Willie Talton (R – Warner Robins) District 147
- Jan Tankersley (R – Brooklet) District 160
- Sam Teasley (R – Marietta) District 37
- Ben Watson (R – Savannah) District 166
- Al Williams (D – Midway) District 168
- “Coach” Williams (D – Avondale Estates) District 87
- John P Yates (R – Griffin) District 73