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Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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HB26-1211 • 2026

Regulation of Broadband Services

The bill authorizes the public utilities commission (commission) to regulate broadband service and voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) service in the state. The commission may adopt rules related to t

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Rep. J. Mabrey, Rep. T. Story
Last action
2026-03-11
Official status
House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government Postpone Indefinitely
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about penalties for non-compliance or enforcement mechanisms.

Regulation of Broadband Services

This bill allows the Public Utilities Commission to regulate broadband and VoIP services in Colorado, including setting rules for quality, safety, and resiliency.

What This Bill Does

  • Gives the Public Utilities Commission authority to make rules about broadband and VoIP service quality, safety, and reliability.
  • Enables the commission to conduct evaluations of broadband facilities and infrastructure.
  • Allows the commission to order internet service providers to take corrective actions if they do not meet standards or violate rules.
  • Requires the commission to submit an annual report about broadband quality, safety, and resiliency to the state legislature.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Internet service providers in Colorado
  • The Public Utilities Commission

Terms To Know

Broadband
High-speed internet access provided over a broadband network, including satellite connections.
VoIP Service
Voice-over-Internet Protocol service, which allows voice calls to be made using an internet connection instead of traditional phone lines.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact penalties for non-compliance by internet service providers.
  • It is unclear how the commission will enforce these regulations and what resources they will have.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

L.001

HOU Transportation, Housing & Local Government

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment adds requirements for the Public Utilities Commission to review and potentially adjust regulations affecting small and rural internet service providers by September 1, 2027.

  • Adds a new section requiring the commission to evaluate and report on the impact of its regulations on small and rural ISPs by September 1, 2027.
  • Includes provisions for the commission to adopt rules to mitigate any unfair impacts or burdens found during this review process.
  • The amendment text does not specify what changes might be made to existing regulations based on the review and report requirements.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-11 House

    House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government Postpone Indefinitely

  2. 2026-02-13 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation, Housing & Local Government

Official Summary Text

The bill authorizes the public utilities commission (commission) to regulate broadband service and voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) service in the state. The commission may adopt rules related to the quality, safety, and resiliency of broadband services in Colorado.
The commission is authorized to conduct evaluations of broadband service facilities and infrastructure and to issue orders that require an internet service provider to take remedial actions to correct unsafe or inadequate service. The commission is required to submit to the general assembly an annual report regarding the quality, safety, and resiliency of broadband and VoIP services.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED

LLS NO. 26-0396.01 Christopher McMichael x4775 HOUSE BILL 26-1211
House Committees Senate Committees
Transportation, Housing & Local Government
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF BROADBAND SERVICES BY THE101
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.102
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill authorizes the public utilities commission (commission)
to regulate broadband service and voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP)
service in the state. The commission may adopt rules related to the
quality, safety, and resiliency of broadband services in Colorado.
The commission is authorized to conduct evaluations of broadband
service facilities and infrastructure and to issue orders that require an
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Story and Mabrey,
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
(None),
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
internet service provider to take remedial actions to correct unsafe or
inadequate service. The commission is required to submit to the general
assembly an annual report regarding the quality, safety, and resiliency of
broadband and VoIP services.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. Short title. The short title of this act is the2
"Broadband Resiliency, Public Safety, and Quality Act".3
SECTION 2. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly4
finds and declares that:5
(a) Access to high-speed and reliable broadband service is6
essential for participation in the economy, education, and civic life;7
(b) Colorado must ensure that the state's residents have access to8
broadband networks that are resilient, high quality, and safe;9
(c) Because voice-over-internet protocol service, or "VoIP10
service", has replaced traditional voice tele phone service for a large11
segment of Colorado's population, ensuring the reliability of VoIP service12
is in the public interest; and13
(d) There is a need to address ambiguity in VoIP service14
regulations in order to establish and enforce appropriate oversight and15
regulation of broadband and VoIP services in order to meet the state's16
goals of providing high-quality, affordable, and safe broadband and VoIP17
services to Colorado residents.18
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 40-15-210 as19
follows:20
40-15-210. Regulation of broadband service and21
voice-over-internet protocol service by commission - definitions -22
rules.23
HB26-1211-2-
(1) Definitions. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT1
OTHERWISE REQUIRES:2
(a) "BROADBAND" OR "BROADBAND SERVICE" MEANS BROADBAND3
INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDED OVER A BROADBAND NETWORK AND4
INCLUDES BROADBAND SERVICE PROVIDED OVER LOW EARTH ORBIT5
INTERNET SATELLITES.6
(b) "INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER" MEANS A PERSON, A BUSINESS,7
OR AN ORGANIZATION QUALIFIED TO DO BUSINESS IN THE STATE THAT8
PROVIDES INDIVIDUALS OR OTHER PERSONS WITH THE ABILITY TO CONNECT9
TO THE INTERNET THROUGH USE OF A BROADBAND SERVICE.10
(2) T HE COMMISSION MAY REGULATE INTERNET SERVICE11
PROVIDERS THAT PROVIDE BROADBAND SERVICE OR12
VOICE-OVER-INTERNET PROTOCOL SERVICE IN THE STATE IN ACCORDANCE13
WITH THIS SECTION BY ADOPTING RULES TO REGULATE BR OADBAND14
SERVICE AND VOIP SERVICE WITH RESPECT TO:15
(a) ESTABLISHING STANDARDS TO ENSURE THE RESILIENCY AND16
RELIABILITY OF BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE;17
(b) R EQUIRING INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS TO SUBMIT18
INFORMATION TO THE COMMISSION RELATED TO BROADBAND NETWORK19
RELIABILITY, ADEQUACY, AND RESILIENCY;20
(c) R EQUIRING INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS TO REPORT21
OUTAGES;22
(d) E STABLISHING SAFETY STANDARDS FOR BROADBAND23
NETWORKS TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY;24
(e) REQUIRING INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS TO SUBMIT PLANS25
RELATED TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND POST -EMERGENCY26
BROADBAND NETWORK RESTORATION;27
HB26-1211-3-
(f) ESTABLISHING MINIMUM POWER BACKUP REQUIREMENTS FOR1
INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS; AND2
(g) REQUIRING INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS TO SUBMIT TO THE3
COMMISSION DATA AND INFORMATION RELATED TO THE DEPLOYMENT ,4
AVAILABILITY, PRICING , AND ADOPTION OF BROADBAND SERVICE AND5
VOIP SERVICE.6
(3) THE COMMISSION MAY CONDUCT EVALUATIONS AND AUDITS7
REGARDING THE QUALITY , SAFETY , AND RESILIENCY OF AN INTERNET8
SERVICE PROVIDER'S FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE USED TO PROVIDE9
BROADBAND SERVICE OR VOIP SERVICE.10
(4) (a) IF THE COMMISSION CONDUCTS AN EVALUATION OR AUDIT11
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBSECTION (3) OF THIS SECTION AND FINDS THAT12
THE PRACTICES , FACILITIES , INFRASTRUCTURE , OR SERVICE OF AN13
INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER IS INADEQUATE TO ENSURE THE BROADBAND14
NETWORK'S QUALITY, RELIABILITY, OR SAFETY, OR IS IN VIOLATION OF ANY15
RULES ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (2) OF THIS SECTION , THE16
COMMISSION MAY ISSUE AN ORDER TO THE INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER17
TO UNDERTAKE REMEDIAL ACTIONS.18
(b) T HE REMEDIAL ACTIONS ORDERED BY THE COMMISSION19
PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (4)(a) OF THIS SECTION MAY INCLUDE: 20
(I) R EQUIRING AN INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER TO CONDUCT21
MEASURES TO IMPROVE BROADBAND SERVICE OR CORRECT VIOLATIONS OF22
THIS SECTION;23
(II) REQUIRING AN INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER TO SUBMIT PLANS24
TO THE COMMISSION THAT DETAIL HOW THE INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER25
WILL RESOLVE ANY BROADBAND SERVICE ISSUES OR HOW THE INTERNET26
SERVICE PROVIDER WILL CORRECT ANY VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION;27
HB26-1211-4-
(III) P ROHIBITING AN INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER FROM1
CONDUCTING CERTAIN ACTIONS THAT MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF THIS2
SECTION;3
(IV) R EQUIRING AN INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER TO BUILD ,4
IMPROVE, OR REPAIR INFRASTRUCTURE OR FACILITIES RELATED TO5
BROADBAND SERVICE THAT MAY BE CAUSING ISSUES OF NETWORK6
RELIABILITY, SAFETY , OR AFFORDABILITY OR THAT ARE CAUSING7
VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION; AND8
(V) I SSUING FINES TO AN INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER THAT9
VIOLATES THIS SECTION OR RULES ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSION10
PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.11
(c) T HE COMMISSION SHALL CREDIT ANY FINES COLLECTED12
PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION TO THE GENERAL FUND.13
(5) (a) O N AND AFTER SEPTEMBER 1, 2027, AND ON AND AFTER14
SEPTEMBER 1 OF EACH YEAR THEREAFTER , THE COMMISSION SHALL15
SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RELATED TO THE QUALITY,16
RESILIENCY, AND SAFETY OF THE STATE'S BROADBAND SERVICE AND VOIP17
SERVICE.18
(b) THE REPORT CONDUCTED BY THE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO19
THIS SUBSECTION (5) MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION, WITH20
RESPECT TO THE PRIOR YEAR:21
(I) THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN COLORADO THAT ARE RECEIVING22
BROADBAND SERVICE FROM INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS;23
(II) B ROADBAND SERVICE PERFORMANCE DATA AND24
MEASUREMENTS RELATED TO THE QUALITY , RELIABILITY, SAFETY, AND25
AFFORDABILITY OF BROADBAND SERVICE, AS COMPARED TO ESTABLISHED26
INDUSTRY STANDARDS FOR BROADBAND SERVICE PERFORMANCE;27
HB26-1211-5-
(III) A LIST OF BROADBAND SERVICE OUTAGES THAT OCCURRED1
WITHIN EACH INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER 'S SERVICE TERRITORY AND2
HOW THE SERVICE OUTAGES WERE RESOLVED;3
(IV) A NY VIOLATIONS THAT THE COMMISSION FOUND AGAINST4
AND ANY FINES THAT THE COMMISSION ISSUED TO AN INTERNET SERVICE5
PROVIDER FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION OR RULES ADOPTED6
PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION AND THE OUTCOME OF THE VIOLATIONS7
FOUND; AND8
(V) A NY OTHER INFORMATION RELEVANT TO THE QUALITY ,9
RELIABILITY, SAFETY, AND AFFORDABILITY OF BROADBAND SERVICE, AS10
DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION.11
(c) T HE COMMISSION SHALL SUBMIT THE REPORT PREPARED12
PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION (5) TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES13
BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND LABOR COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE BUSINESS ,14
LABOR, AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE , OR THEIR SUCCESSOR15
COMMITTEES.16
(d) THE COMMISSION MAY ADOPT ANY RULES NECESSARY RELATED17
TO THE SUBMISSION OR COLLECTION OF INFORMATION FROM AN INTERNET18
SERVICE PROVIDER IN ORDER TO CONDUCT THE REPORT REQUIRED19
PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION (5).20
(e) T HE REPORTS REQUIRED BY SUBSECTION (5)(a) OF THIS21
SECTION ARE EXEMPT FROM SECTION 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I).22
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 40-15-401, amend23
(1)(c), (1)(i), and (1)(q); and repeal (1)(r) as follows:24
40-15-401. Services, products, and providers exempt from25
regulation - definition.26
(1) The following products, services, and providers are exempt27
HB26-1211-6-
from regulation under this article 15 or under the "Public Utilities Law"1
of the state of Colorado:2
(c) Commercial mobile radio services; EXCEPT THAT THE3
COMMISSION MAY REGULATE BROADBAND SERVICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH4
SECTION 40-15-210;5
(i) Information services; EXCEPT THAT THE COMMISSION MAY6
REGULATE BROADBAND SERVICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION7
40-15-210;8
(q) Internet-protocol-enabled services; EXCEPT THAT THE9
COMMISSION MAY REGULATE BROADBAND SERVICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH10
SECTION 40-15-210;11
(r) Voice-over-internet protocol service;12
SECTION 5. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act13
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the14
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August15
12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13, 2026); ex cept that, if a16
referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the17
state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act18
within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect19
unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in20
November 2026 a nd, in such cas e, will take effect on the date of the21
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.22
HB26-1211-7-