1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to broadband; appropriating money for broadband service mapping.
1.3 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.4 	Section 1. BROADBAND SERVICE MAPPING; APPROPRIATION.
 1.5 	$450,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2015 from the general fund to the 
1.6 	commissioner of employment and economic development for the purpose of funding one 
1.7 	or more contracts with an independent organization to continue to:
1.8 	(1) collect broadband deployment data from Minnesota providers, verify its accuracy 
1.9 	through on-the-ground testing, and create state and county maps available to the public 
1.10 	showing the availability of broadband service at various upload and download speeds 
1.11 	throughout Minnesota, in order to measure progress in achieving the state's broadband 
1.12 	goals established in Minnesota Statutes, section 237.012;
1.13 	(2) analyze the deployment data collected to help inform future investments in 
1.14 	broadband infrastructure; and
1.15 	(3) conduct business and residential surveys that measure broadband adoption and 
1.16 	use in the state.

1.17 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

1.18 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 1.19 	$250,000 is appropriated from the general fund in fiscal year 2015 to the 
1.20 	commissioner of employment and economic development for an evaluation of the future 
1.21 	federal financial support for broadband infrastructure deployment in rural Minnesota. The 
1.22 	commissioner shall develop state strategies to maximize federal financial assistance for 
2.1 	broadband infrastructure deployment in rural Minnesota. The commissioner shall develop 
2.2 	state policy alternatives to respond to possible changes in federal telecommunications 
2.3 	regulation and funding level reductions that impact deployment of broadband 
2.4 	infrastructure in rural Minnesota. The commissioner may contract for the performance of 
2.5 	any or all of the commissioner's duties under this section.