2022 -- S 2568 | |
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LC004815 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT | |
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Introduced By: Senators Seveney, Pearson, Murray, Cano, Zurier, and Euer | |
Date Introduced: March 10, 2022 | |
Referred To: Senate Commerce | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND |
2 | GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: |
3 | CHAPTER 162 |
4 | SPENDING AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS FOR BROADBAND |
5 | DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM |
6 | 42-162-1. Definitions. |
7 | As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings: |
8 | (1) "Broadband service" means any wireline or fixed wireless technology having the |
9 | capacity to transmit data from or to the Internet at minimum speeds of at least twenty-five megabits |
10 | per second (25 Mbps) downstream and three megabits per second (3 Mbps) upstream. |
11 | (2) "Broadband coordinator" or "coordinator" means the broadband coordinator designated |
12 | pursuant to the provisions of § 42-162-2. |
13 | (3) "Broadband council" or "council" means the broadband council established pursuant to |
14 | the provisions of § 42-162-3. |
15 | (4) “Digital literacy” means the ability to use information and communication technologies |
16 | to find, evaluate, create and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills; |
17 | (5) "Underserved" means a geographic area of the state in which there is no provider of |
18 | broadband Internet service that offers dedicated Internet access with a capacity for transmission at |
19 | a consistent speed of at least one hundred megabits per second (100 Mbps) downstream and at least |
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1 | twenty-five megabits per second (25 Mbps) upstream and does not qualify as “unserved” as defined |
2 | herein. |
3 | (6) "Unserved" means a geographic area of the state in which there is no provider of |
4 | broadband Internet service that offers dedicated Internet access with a capacity for transmission at |
5 | a consistent speed of at least twenty-five megabits per second (25 Mbps) downstream and at least |
6 | three megabits per second (3 Mbps) upstream. |
7 | 42-162-2. Broadband coordinator. |
8 | An employee of the Rhode Island commerce corporation (Commerce RI) shall be |
9 | designated by the secretary of commerce as the broadband coordinator. The broadband coordinator |
10 | shall be responsible for connecting and communicating with the National Telecommunications and |
11 | Information Administration (NTIA) and other federal agencies to access federal funds to close the |
12 | digital divide in Rhode Island by promoting broadband infrastructure deployment to underserved |
13 | and unserved locations, facilitating broadband service adoption, expanding digital literacy for |
14 | residents experiencing economic hardship, and for future economic development. The broadband |
15 | coordinator shall meet no less than quarterly with the broadband council. The broadband |
16 | coordinator shall perform such other duties as assigned by the secretary. |
17 | 42-162-3. Broadband council established. |
18 | (a) There is hereby established a broadband council for the purpose of performing the |
19 | duties enumerated in § 42-162-4. |
20 | (b) The council shall consist of the following nine (9) members: |
21 | (1) Rhode Island emergency management administrator, or designee. |
22 | (2) Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns administrator, or designee. |
23 | (3) Department of the public utilities commission administrator, or designee. |
24 | (4) Rhode Island infrastructure bank administrator, or designee. |
25 | (5) Providence Chamber of Commerce administrator, or designee. |
26 | (6) Northern RI Chamber of Commerce administrator, or designee. |
27 | (7) Telecommunications expert appointed by the governor. |
28 | (8) An individual or organizational representative serving underrepresented populations in |
29 | the state appointed by the senate president. |
30 | (9) An individual or organizational representative serving underrepresented populations in |
31 | the state appointed by the speaker of the house. |
32 | (c) Members of the council shall designate a chairperson. |
33 | (d) Members of the council shall serve without compensation. |
34 | (e) Vacancies shall be appointed in the same manner as the original appointment. |
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1 | 42-162-4. Duties and powers of broadband council. |
2 | (a) The council, in the performance of its duties, assist, advise and enable the broadband |
3 | coordinator to create a strategic plan that has goals and strategies for utilizing federal funds to |
4 | bridge the remaining digital divide in Rhode Island and increase the adoption of broadband Internet |
5 | service in the state. The plan shall include recommendations for funds to be used to: |
6 | (1) Facilitate targeted high-speed broadband infrastructure projects in underserved and |
7 | unserved locations through competitive requests for proposals that require the winning bidder to |
8 | contribute at least twenty percent (20%) private investment in the network construction; |
9 | (2) Provide subsidized computing devices, Internet service plan support, including in-home |
10 | equipment, and digital literacy services to targeted populations experiencing economic hardship |
11 | including, but not limited to, persons eligible for the temporary assistance for needy families |
12 | program, the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program, the federal communications |
13 | commission’s emergency broadband benefit program, the federal communications commission’s |
14 | lifeline program, and those whose household includes a child who is eligible for free or reduced |
15 | price lunch; |
16 | (3) Provide information and advice to increase education, awareness, training, access, |
17 | equipment, and support about available broadband adoption programs to libraries, schools, colleges |
18 | and universities, health care providers, and community support organizations; |
19 | (4) In consultation with the governor’s workforce board, develop a recommended statewide |
20 | curriculum for advanced digital skills training to establish a talent pipeline matching job seekers |
21 | and historically underrepresented populations and Rhode Island employers. |
22 | (b) The council shall work in collaboration with the commerce corporation and other quasi- |
23 | public and nonprofit entities and state agencies, and may provide advisory assistance to local |
24 | entities, local authorities, public bodies and private corporations for the purposes of maximizing |
25 | opportunities for the expansion of broadband access for remaining unserved locations and |
26 | underserved locations and adoption of broadband service in the state. |
27 | 42-162-5. Funding. |
28 | In addition to any appropriations by the state to include funds from the American Rescue |
29 | Plan Act, Pub. Law. 11-7-2 (2021) for the council to perform its duties, the broadband coordinator, |
30 | shall apply for and accept any available federal funds or grants to perform the functions of this |
31 | chapter. The broadband council may identify and recommend funding sources and grants to the |
32 | broadband coordinator. |
33 | 42-162-6. Administrative support to council. |
34 | The broadband council shall be administratively attached to the Rhode Island commerce |
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1 | corporation established pursuant to chapter 64 of title 42. The Rhode Island commerce corporation |
2 | shall be responsible for providing support services to the council. |
3 | 42-162-7. Meetings and reporting. |
4 | The council shall meet at least quarterly and shall report at least quarterly to the general |
5 | assembly on its findings and recommendations to include, but not be limited to, recommendations |
6 | for proposed legislation to further the purposes of this chapter. |
7 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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LC004815 | |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT | |
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1 | This act would establish a development program to increase and administer the adoption |
2 | of broadband services for local and statewide entities, both public and private, to be funded by the |
3 | spending of America Rescue Plan Act funds. |
4 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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LC004815 | |
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