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Housing and Economic Development <br />activities. In addition, in order to ensure cohesive and comprehensive regulations, the <br />legislature should limit regulation of business incentives to the Business Subsidy Act. <br />Metro Cities supports additional legislation that includes tools to help enhance and <br />facilitate economic development and job creation. <br />3-0 Broadband Technology <br />Where many traditional economic development tools have focused on managing the costs <br />and availability of traditional infrastructure—roads, rail and utilities—the new economy <br />is increasingly dependent on reliable, cost effective, high bandwidth telecommunications <br />capabilities. This includes voice, video, data and other services delivered over cable, <br />telephone, fiber-optic, wireless and other platforms. While the United States was once a <br />leader among "wired" economies, its position has slipped dramatically as other countries <br />have facilitated investments in fiber-optic deployment (fiber to the premises), <br />commitments to true high speed internet capacity (100 mb to 1 gb) and improved <br />networks (Internet 2). Recognizing that there is a policy debate regarding the role of <br />government versus private telecommunications companies in implementing the next <br />generation of internet capability, bringing about such capabilities is increasingly <br />important to ensure that U.S. companies in general and Minnesota companies in <br />particular can compete effectively in the global economy. <br />Metro Cities endorses comprehensive and regional strategies to stimulate the <br />implementation of high speed, reliable and cost effective internet service that is <br />available throughout the state. Metro Cities supports the repeal of Minnesota <br />Statute 237.19. Policies should not diminish local authority to manage public <br />rights-of-way, to zone, to collect compensation for the use of public assets, or to <br />work cooperatively with the private sector. <br />Metro Cities opposes the adoption of state policies that further restrict a city's <br />ability to finance, construct or operate broadband telecommunications networks. <br />• Metro Cities supports metro eligibility for any broadband funding. <br />• Metro Cities supports statutory clarity around franchising when a provider <br />ceases business operations and a successor has not been named. <br />3-P City Role in Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development <br />Historically, cities have played a major role in environmental protection, particularly in <br />water quality. Through the construction and operation of wastewater treatment and storm <br />water management systems, cities are a leader in protecting the surface water of the state. <br />In recent years, increased emphasis has been placed on protecting ground water and <br />removing impairments from storm water. In addition, there is increased emphasis on city <br />participation in controlling our carbon footprint and in promoting green development. <br />34 2016 Legislative Policies <br />