House DFL nixes plan for fee, regulations for internet service

Minnesota cities won't impose fees on internet providers meant to help pay for some government programming and improve broadband access after legislation failed to clear the state House. The Minnesota House DFL dropped the plan, which sparked heated debate with the telecom industry about whether this would help or hurt broadband efforts, from an omnibus bill earlier this week. Democrats who control the House initially included the legislation in a package of bills the Commerce Finance and Policy Committee advanced. But DFLers cut the franchise fee policy before passing the...