Minnesota Legislature
HF 3268
as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/17/2016 02:32pm
Current Version - as introduced
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A bill for an act
relating to telecommunications; modifying the border-to-border broadband grant
program; modifying Minnesota's statewide broadband goals; appropriating
money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 116J.395, subdivisions 1, 2,
6; 237.012; Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, section 116J.394.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, section 116J.394, is amended to read:
116J.394 DEFINITIONS.
(a) For the purposes of sections 116J.394 to 116J.396, the following terms have
the meanings given them.
(b) "Broadband" or "broadband service" has the meaning given in section 116J.39,
subdivision 1, paragraph (b).
(c) "Broadband infrastructure" means networks of deployed telecommunications
equipment and technologies necessary to provide high-speed Internet access and other
advanced telecommunications services for end users.
(d) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of employment and economic
development.
(e) "Last-mile infrastructure" means broadband infrastructure that serves as the
final leg connecting the broadband service provider's network to the end-use customer's
on-premises telecommunications equipment.
(f) "Middle-mile infrastructure" means broadband infrastructure that links a
broadband service provider's core network infrastructure to last-mile infrastructure.
(g) "Political subdivision" means any county, city, town, school district, special
district or other political subdivision, or public corporation.
(h) "Underserved areas" means areas of Minnesota in which households or
businesses lack access to wire-line broadband service at speeds that meet the state
broadband goals deleted text begin of ten to 20 megabits per second download and five to ten megabits
per second uploaddeleted text end new text begin under section 237.012new text end .
(i) "Unserved areas" means areas of Minnesota in which households or businesses
lack access to wire-line broadband service, as defined in section 116J.39.
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 116J.395, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1.
Establishment.
A grant program is established under the Department
of Employment and Economic Development to award grants to eligible applicants in order
to promote the expansion of access to broadband service in deleted text begin unserved ordeleted text end underserved
areas of the state.
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 116J.395, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2.
Eligible expenditures.
Grants may be awarded under this section to fund
the acquisition and installation of middle-mile and last-mile infrastructure that support
broadband service scalable to speeds deleted text begin of at least 100 megabits per second download and
100 megabits per second uploaddeleted text end new text begin at least meeting the high-speed goal under section
237.012, subdivision 1new text end .
Sec. 4.
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 116J.395, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd. 6.
Awarding grants.
(a) In evaluating applications and awarding grants, the
commissioner shall give priority to applications that are constructed in areas identified by
the director of the Office of Broadband Development as new text begin underserved or new text end unserved.
(b) In evaluating applications and awarding grants, the commissioner may give
priority to applications that:
deleted text begin
(1) are constructed in areas identified by the director of the Office of Broadband
Development as underserved;
deleted text end
deleted text begin (2)deleted text end new text begin (1)new text end offer new or substantially upgraded broadband service to important
community institutions including, but not limited to, libraries, educational institutions,
public safety facilities, and healthcare facilities;
deleted text begin (3)deleted text end new text begin (2)new text end facilitate the use of telemedicine and electronic health records;
deleted text begin (4)deleted text end new text begin (3)new text end serve deleted text begin economically distressed areas of the state, as measured by indices of
unemployment, poverty, or population loss that are significantly greater than the statewide
average;deleted text end new text begin one or more businesses located outside of the metropolitan area, as defined in
section 473.121, subdivision 2, that have provided to the city in which the business or
businesses are located a written statement indicating that the lack of wireline broadband
service at speeds scalable to the high-speed goal under section 237.012, subdivision 1,
has impeded business growth or threatens the business or businesses' ability to remain in
the city;
new text end
deleted text begin (5)deleted text end new text begin (4)new text end provide technical support and train residents, businesses, and institutions in
the community served by the project to utilize broadband service;
deleted text begin (6)deleted text end new text begin (5)new text end include a component to actively promote the adoption of the newly available
broadband services in the community;
deleted text begin (7)deleted text end new text begin (6)new text end provide evidence of strong support for the project from citizens, government,
businesses, and institutions in the community;
deleted text begin (8)deleted text end new text begin (7)new text end provide access to broadband service to a greater number of deleted text begin unserved or
deleted text end underserved households and businesses; or
deleted text begin (9)deleted text end new text begin (8)new text end leverage greater amounts of funding for the project from other private and
public sources.
(c) The commissioner shall endeavor to award grants under this section to qualified
applicants in all regions of the state.
new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end
Sec. 5.
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 237.012, is amended to read:
237.012 BROADBAND GOALS.
Subdivision 1.
Universal access and high-speed goal.
It is a state goal that as soon
as possible, but no later than deleted text begin 2015deleted text end new text begin 2026new text end , all state residents and businesses have access to
high-speed broadband that provides minimum new text begin upload and new text end download speeds of deleted text begin ten to 20deleted text end new text begin
100new text end megabits per second deleted text begin and minimum upload speeds of five to ten megabits per seconddeleted text end .
Subd. 2.
State broadband leadership position.
It is a goal of the state that by
deleted text begin 2015deleted text end new text begin 2026new text end and thereafter, the state be in:
(1) the top five states of the United States for broadband speed universally accessible
to residents and businesses;
(2) the top five states for broadband access; and
(3) the top 15 when compared to countries globally for broadband penetration.
Sec. 6. new text begin BROADBAND GRANT PROGRAM; APPROPRIATION.
new text end
new text begin
$....... in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of employment and economic development for deposit in the border-to-border broadband
fund account under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.396. The appropriation must be used
for grants and the purposes specified under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.395.
new text end