<p> Municipal broadband implementations are restricted in some way by 19 states, with other states proposing restrictions. In analyzing the different state laws, there are three categories of restrictions: bans on providing services, administrative restrictions, and economic restrictions. The most common restriction is to require municipalities to create separate funds for communication services, there are 21 different economic restrictions implemented. Most states implement more than one type of restriction and do not fall into just one category. The effect of the restrictions varies depending on the market conditions and the status of the LEC (Local Exchange Carrier), and the number of municipal electric companies present within the state. The restrictions in most states passed after the first large scale municipal network was proposed. This made it difficult to measure the effect of the restrictions on either broadband adoption or fiber to the home (FTTH) rates.</p>

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 2005. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 66-08, Section: B, page: 4534. Adviser: Wendy Packman.