A representative of the N.C. Association of Broadcasters says it invited U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole to speak as a sitting senator, not a candidate.

But North Carolina's other U.S. senator, Richard Burr, was also in Asheville this weekend, and his staffers say they do not recall an invitation to speak at today's broadcasting association meeting, Barb Barrett reports.

The group invited both Dole and Democratic opponent Kay Hagan to debate. Hagan agreed, but Dole did not. But Dole gave the keynote speech instead.

Wade Hargrove, the association's longtime attorney, said that Dole would have been invited whether there was a campaign or not. 

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Hargrove gave Dole’s campaign committee $1,000 last December.

A House bill that would limit towns from offering high-speed Internet access stayed alive today.

The bill's backers argued that it was necessary to keep local government from creating monopolies on wireless access, cable television or phone services.

"If you had closed your eyes at last week's meeting (on the bill), you would have thought you were in Moscow," said Wade Hargrove, a Raleigh attorney working for the telecommunications industry.

But opponents said it would hurt towns, cities and counties from offering a service in areas that industry is not interested in serving.

"This time the infrastructure isn't water or sewer or electricity, the infrastructure of today and tomorrow is fiber optics," said Bruce Rose, mayor of Wilson.

The bill passed a voice vote in the public utilities committee and now heads to finance.