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:

1. Alex Atwood (R – Brunswick) District 179
2. Mandi L. Ballinger (R – Canton) District 23
3. Timothy Barr (R – Lawrenceville) District 103
4. Ellis Black (R – Valdosta) District 174
5. Buzz Brockway (R – Lawrenceville) District 102
6. Bob Bryant (D – Garden City) District 162
7. Jon G. Burns (R – Newington) District 159
8. John Carson (R – Marietta) District 46
9. David Casas (R – Lilburn) District 107
10. Joyce Chandler (R – Lawrenceville) District 105
11. Mickey Channell (R – Greensboro) District 120
12. Mike Cheokas (R – Americus) District 138
13. Christian Coomer (R – Cartersville) District 14
14. Sharon Cooper (R – Marietta) District 43
15. Robert Dickey (R – Musella) District 140
16. Matt Dollar (R – Marietta) District 45
17. Mike Dudgeon (R – Johns Creek) District 25
18. Geoff Duncan (R – Cumming) District 26
19. Earl Ehrhart (R – Powder Springs) District 36
20. 

    Virgil Fludd: Voted against community broadband.

    Virgil Fludd (D – Tyrone) District 64

21. Carol Fullerton (D – Albany) District 153
22. Mike Glanton (D – Jonesboro) District 75
23. Mark Hamilton (R – Cumming) District 24
24. Ben Harbin (R – Evans) District 122
25. Brett Harrell (R – Snellville) District 106
26. Calvin Hill (R – Canton) District 22
27. Bill Hitchens (R – Rincon) District 161
28. Penny Houston (R – Nashville) District 170
29. Mike Jacobs (R – Brookhaven) District 80
30. Rick Jasperse (R – Jasper) District 11
31. Jan Jones (R – Milton) District 47
32. Sheila Jones (D – Atlanta) District 53
33. Darryl Jordan (D – Riverdale) District 77
34. David Knight (R – Griffin) District 130
35. Edward Lindsey (R – Atlanta) District 54
36. Chuck Martin (R – Alpharetta) District 49
37. Howard Maxwell (R – Dallas) District 17
38. 

    O’Neal: Voted to protect incumbent providers.

    Rahn Mayo (D – Decatur) District 84

39. Billy Mitchell (D – Stone Mountain) District 88
40. Alisha Thomas Morgan (D – Austell) District 39
41. Greg Morris (R – Vidalia) District 156
42. Chad Nimmer (R – Blackshear) District 178
43. Larry O`Neal (R – Bonaire) District 146
44. Butch Parrish (R – Swainsboro) District 158
45. Don Parsons (R – Marietta) District 44
46. Allen Peake (R – Macon) District 141
47. Alan Powell (R – Hartwell) District 32
48. Jimmy Pruett (R – Eastman) District 149
49. Matt Ramsey (R – Peachtree City) District 72
50. Nikki T. Randall (D – Macon) District 142
51. Tom Rice (R – Norcross) District 95
52. Jay Roberts (R – Ocilla) District 155
53. Carl Rogers (R – Gainesville) District 29
54. 

    Smith: A business owner that doesn’t mind if rural Georgia is left behind.

    Ed Rynders (R – Albany) District 152

55. Jason Shaw (R – Lakeland) District 176
56. Donna Sheldon (R – Dacula) District 104
57. Barbara Sims (R – Augusta) District 123
58. Earnest Smith (D – Augusta) District 125
59. Lynn Smith (R – Newnan) District 70
60. Calvin Smyre (D – Columbus) District 135
61. Jason Spencer (R – Woodbine) District 180
62. Ron Stephens (R – Savannah) District 164
63. Valencia Stovall (D – Ellenwood) District 74
64. Willie Talton (R – Warner Robins) District 147
65. Jan Tankersley (R – Brooklet) District 160
66. Sam Teasley (R – Marietta) District 37
67. Ben Watson (R – Savannah) District 166
68. Al Williams (D – Midway) District 168
69. “Coach” Williams (D – Avondale Estates) District 87
70. John P Yates (R – Griffin) District 73