Senate Bill 511 Summary

• Establishes a new framework allowing North Carolina cities to provide communications services (cable, video programming, telecommunications, broadband, and high-speed Internet access) to the public through separate enterprise funds.

• Requires cities seeking to offer communications services to first issue a request for proposals to private firms, with at least 30 days' notice via mail, web posting, and newspaper publication, and to evaluate proposals based on system design, reliability, costs, and other relevant factors.

• Mandates cities hold at least two public hearings at least 30 days apart before proceeding with city-owned communications networks, with notice to the North Carolina Utilities Commission and availability of feasibility studies as public records.

• Exempts from these requirements cities already providing communications services as of January 1, 2011; those with contracted feasibility studies by that date; networks used for public safety or internal city use; and those financed by federal grants or part of Google's Fiber Project.

• Prohibits cities from subsidizing communications services with funds from other public enterprises unless the service is directly related to those enterprises, and requires cities to provide other providers access to rights-of-way, poles, and conduits.