ATLANTA – State Representative Mark Hamilton (R-Cumming) recently received “The Broadband Leader Award” from the Cable Television Association of Georgia (CTAG). The association chose to honor Rep. Hamilton with the award to recognize his work on House Bill 855, which places limits on phone subsidies paid by all phone customers to independently-owned local telephone companies.
“Representative Hamilton understands how phone subsidies distort the marketplace and harm competition in rural Georgia where broadband deployment is needed most,” said Stephen Loftin, Executive Director of CTAG.
The Broadband Leader Award is given by the Cable Television Association of Georgia to state policy makers and leaders who work to increase investment in the state’s broadband infrastructure by promoting a level playing field and competition in the telecommunications industry.
Rep. Hamilton was chosen to receive this year’s Broadband Leader Award for his leadership on HB 855, which would have reduced and eventually eliminated an outdated subsidy that limits competition among internet providers in the state.
“I am really humbled to receive this recognition and award,” said Rep. Hamilton. “HB 855 is really a common sense piece of legislation that reduces the tax burden on Georgia citizens by removing subsidies on telecoms that no longer need or deserve it. I look forward to continuing the fight for reducing taxes on hard working Georgians and leveling the playing field in that industry by eliminating outdated subsidies that choose winners and losers.”
Rep. Hamilton introduced HB 855 during the 2012 legislative session. Although it did not make its way into law this year, HB 855 would have reined-in disbursements from the state Universal Access Fund (UAF). These disbursements have grown approximately 30 percent per year since landmark telecommunications reform intended to shrink the subsidies was passed in 2010 (HB 168). HB 855 would have ratcheted down and ended the UAF by capping disbursements at gradually declining amounts between 2012 and 2014, which under the legislation, would have been the final year of the fund.
For more information on HB 855, please click here.
Representative Mark Hamilton represents the citizens of District 23, which includes parts of Cherokee and Forsyth counties. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2006 and currently serves as Chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations, Energy, Utilities, & Telecommunications, Industrial Relations, and Transportation committees.
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