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~P <br />STATEMENT OF PETER PITSCH <br />DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS POLICY <br />INTEL CORPORATION <br />Submitted to <br />SPEAKER JOE HACKNEY <br />AND MEMBERS OF THE NORTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF <br />REPRESENTATIVES <br />Concerning HB 1587, The Local Government Fair Competition Act <br />June 18, 2007 <br />Intel is the world's largest semiconductor manufacturer and a leading <br />technology company. We have a longstanding interest in promoting public <br />policies that foster broadband deployment and facilities-based competition. We <br />respectfully submit these comments on HB 1587, for your consideration. <br />Many municipalities across the US are considering ways to promote <br />broadband networks in their communities. Legitimate concerns have been raised <br />about the merits of such public-sector efforts, but Intel believes state laws <br />prohibiting or erecting barriers to these efforts are a mistake. Some promising <br />cooperative efforts between municipalities and multiple private sector partners <br />already exist or are underway. <br />Presumptively, municipalities should follow common sense guidelines <br />designed to promote competitive neutrality that is reasonable for their particular <br />circumstances. Because circumstances vary, however, statewide blanket <br />prescriptions are unwise. Some municipalities may find private sector partners <br />able to provide all of their services. Others may find private partners able to <br />provide some, but not all, of the services they require. Still others -because of <br />their small size or remote location -may not find any private sector partners <br />willing or able to provide their services. The key is that municipalities use open, <br />transparent and neutral processes to determine the reasonable level of private <br />sector involvement, and apply their ordinances and rules without discrimination in <br />favor of themselves or affiliated providers. <br />