REPEAL NC SESSION LAW 2011-84 and allow Pinetops to keep high speed internet access.

In April 2016, the City of Wilson offered its high speed broadband internet and cable services to residents in the Town of Pinetops. Wilson has provided electric service to Pinetops since the 1970s and was allowed to bring this Gigabit service to Pinetops as a result of the FCC preempting a North Carolina law preventing expansion of Greenlight. The State of North Carolina sued the FCC and won the case, forcing Wilson to disconnect Pinetops on October 28. The North Carolina law is Session Law 2011-84 (House Bill 129 from 2011) and was based on the principle that government entities (like Wilson) should not compete with private companies. However, there are no private companies providing high speed, quality broadband services to the small towns and rural areas of NC. Wilson Greenlight is the only hope Pinetops and other small towns Wilson serves have of getting 21st century internet services at a reasonable price. Quality internet is absolutely essential to economic growth and quality of life.