Dotting them throughout neighborhoods is necessary for full coverage, they say, because the new 5G signals do not travel as far as the radio frequencies now in use. Since 2016, 13 states have passed bills that limit local control, and several other states are considering similar laws. Mr. Pai and Mr. Carr have said regulatory changes are necessary to keep pace with global competitors. But bringing high-speed service to underserved areas — closing the digital divide — has also been one of Mr. Pai’s central arguments for reining in local regulations. The maneuvering in Washington has left people like Marc King, 71, a longtime resident of Germantown, Md., feeling resigned.

Source: New York Times March 03, 2018 02:00 UTC