Bills · 2021-2022 Regular Session
Relating to: broadband mapping and the use of certain federal funds for wireless broadband and cellular service expansion grants. (FE)
Data processing Federal aid Governor Maps Public service commission Telecommunications Telephone
- Introduced, stopped here
- Passes Senate, not reached
- Passes Assembly, not reached
- Governor signs, not reached
- Law, not reached
Unfamiliar terms? Glossary
What this bill does
Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires the Public Service Commission to award grants for
constructing wireless broadband and cellular service infrastructure. Under the bill,
PSC must give priority to projects that expand wireless broadband service or cellular
service in areas designated by the Federal Communications Commission as
unserved or underserved. Grant recipients must contribute matching funds equal
to at least 20 percent of the grant. The bill requires the governor to allocate
$70,000,000 of the funds accepted under the federal American Rescue Plan Act of
2021 (ARPA) for these grants.
The bill also requires PSC to establish and maintain a publicly accessible map
of fixed, mass market broadband service availability in this state. Under the bill,
broadband service providers must disclose the properties they serve to PSC twice per
year, and PSC must update the broadband service availability map twice per year.
The bill requires the governor to allocate $5,000,000 of the funds accepted under
ARPA for this broadband mapping.
What it would cost
Fiscal estimates filed by state agencies, as official PDFs
Sponsors
Full history
- Sep 15, 2021 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Wimberger, Bernier and Nass; cosponsored by Representatives Steffen, Armstrong, Dittrich, Loudenbeck, Macco, Moses, Murphy, Penterman, Wichgers, Zimmerman, Tittl and Kuglitsch
- Sep 15, 2021 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Utilities, Technology and Telecommunications
- Oct 22, 2021 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Mar 15, 2022 · Senate
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1