Calling the legislation part of a “multi-faceted approach to closing the digital divide” Senate Communications and Technology Chairman Kristin Phillips-Hill teed up Senate Bill 341 for committee consideration on Tuesday. The Senator noted in her comments that many of the regulations currently on the books have not been updated in decades and that the legislation “takes the first step in modernizing the regulatory framework which is no longer applicable in today’s competitive environment.” After debate on the bill’s impact on consumer protections and the PUC’s proposed regulations on the matter lead by Democratic Committee Chairman John Kane, the committee ultimately voted the bill out of committee on a vote of 7-3. Senator Anthony Williams voted with the majority, noting that while the PUC has acknowledged the issue, it has not moved swiftly enough to reconcile it in today’s competitive environment.