Wilton Manors, Florida (March 13, 2018)Gary Resnick, Mayor of Wilton Manors, Florida, has been invited to testify at the United States Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation’s subcommittee hearing entitled, “Rebuilding Infrastructure in America: Investing in Next Generation Broadband” being held on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 in Washington, D.C.

 

Appointed to the National League of Cities (NLC) 2018 leadership and board of directors,  Mayor Resnick was also appointed to chair the 2018 Information Technology & Communications (ITC) Federal Advocacy Committee and serves on the Board Legislative Action Committee.

 

“Ultimately, my goal is to ensure that cities, including our own Wilton Manors, are protected as expansions in communications and broadband systems are implemented,” said Resnick. “It is important that cities maintain home rule authority to physically manage the construction of broadband in rights-of-way to minimize damage to other utilities and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our residents. We certainly do not want broadband facilities installed in improper locations in front of homes and businesses, and at taxpayer expense.”

 

The subcommittee hearing will occur the same week that the NLC is hosting its annual conference in Washington, D.C. The NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.

 

“I urge my fellow NLC members to join me in advocating for robust, ubiquitous affordable broadband throughout our country in a way that does not preempt cities’ home rule authority or result in taxpayers subsidizing the private communications industry,” said Resnick. “Ultimately, we can’t allow the wireless industry to enjoy the benefits of a regulated utility with quick and taxpayer-subsidized access to public rights-of-way without satisfying consumer demands that come with it.”

 

Mayor Resnick has served on the Wilton Manors City Commission since 1998, is past president of the Broward League of Cities (BLC), currently chairs the BLC Legislative Advocacy Committee and serves on the boards of the BLC and Florida League of Cities. In 2017, the Florida League of Cities recognized Resnick with a Home Rule Hero Award. Mayor Resnick earned this prestigious award for his tireless efforts to advance the League’s legislative agenda and help protect the Home Rule powers of Florida’s cities during the 2017 regular legislative session. Mayor Resnick is a shareholder and practicing attorney with GrayRobinson Attorneys at Law and chair of the firm’s communications broadband practice.