Dear Legislator:

This letter is in support of pending legislation to modernize Wisconsin’s outdated telecom laws that we hope will be approved in Madison this month. Senate Bill 469/Assembly Bill 696 would help Wisconsin encourage investment, attract businesses and create jobs by simplifying the patchwork of laws affecting telecommunications.

The Northeast Wisconsin Regional Economic Partnership (NEWREP) is comprised of economic development professionals from sixteen northeast Wisconsin counties plus the Menominee Tribe. NEWREP provides hands-on support and programming for existing and prospective businesses. NEWREP members serve as the proverbial feet on the ground for economic development, providing local, personal services to area business communities. NEWREP's members have also elected to pursue in a collaborative manner initiatives dedicated to seeking solutions that will have a regional impact.

As a group representing sixteen counties, we recognize that the state needs to do everything it can to make Wisconsin competitive. That includes making it easy for our region to encourage the high-tech telecommunications infrastructure that today’s existing and future businesses rely on.

Today, the state governs different types of providers in different ways – even though they all provide the same service. This makes real competition impossible and erects roadblocks to investment and competition.

The pending legislation, which has support from nearly 40 chambers and other organizations, realigns Wisconsin’s laws with today’s competitive world of broadband, wireless, cable and other technologies. It creates a level playing field based on current laws in place today. And it keeps in place consumer protections that have worked well, without any cost to taxpayers.

Passing SB-469/AB-696 will enhance our region's economic and business development environment and the quality of life for people living and working throughout the NEWREP territory.

We urge our area legislators to help win approval of this bill and help Northeast Wisconsin and the entire state become a magnet for the growing technology businesses and employers of the 21^st Century.