Miss. PSC Re-Elects Chair; Democratic Wins in Kentucky, Virginia Could Spur Net Neutrality
Mississippi re-elected Public Service Commission Chairman Brandon Presley (D), while electing two Republican commissioners -- Brent Bailey and Dane Maxwell -- in Tuesday’s election. Bailey and Maxwell “are dedicated hard-workers and I know that we are headed for four years…
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of great things for the people of MS,” tweeted Presley, a NARUC executive committee member. Kentucky and Virginia election results could be good news for net neutrality supporters. Andy Beshear (D), who claimed victory in Kentucky’s gubernatorial election despite Republican Gov. Matt Bevin's not conceding, was one of the state attorneys general who challenged the FCC’s 2017 net neutrality repeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. That court recently ruled the FCC couldn’t stop states from making their own policies, encouraging some state Democrats (see 1910240024). But Daniel Cameron (R) is taking the Beshear's AG seat, and the GOP controls both houses of the legislature. Virginia, which already had a Democratic governor, flipped both legislative houses to make a blue trifecta. “Virginia is very much on the radar after yesterday’s election,” emailed Gigi Sohn, fellow at the Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy. National Regulatory Research Institute Telecom Principal Sherry Lichtenberg said it’s hard to predict what will happen. “Although Kentucky joined the state AG appeal, I’m not sure that this will result in state legislation,” and “Virginia has been doing a great deal of work in broadband mapping,” but NRRI hasn’t “seen any movement on net neutrality there,” she emailed. Colorado's Edgewater, Greenwood Village, Lakewood, Mead, Parker and Rico voted to opt out of SB-152, a 2005 state restriction on municipal broadband, emailed Colorado Municipal League Legislative and Policy Advocate Brandy DeLange. “These elections results track with the previous 100+ communities that have passed similar questions,” showing “constituents want faster, better, reliable broadband and that they are comfortable with their local government beginning that conversation.” The vote was narrow in Lakewood, with 50.44 percent in favor. People from Fort Dodge, Iowa, voted to establish a muni telecom utility, and Holyoke, Massachusetts, residents supported a nonbinding referendum showing public support for municipal broadband, emailed Institute for Local Self-Reliance Community Broadband Networks Director Christopher Mitchell. It shows “people really wanting better options for Internet access than the cable and telephone monopolies, even in areas that the FCC would consider to be well served,” he said.