SF 3095

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/28/2025 10:31 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to broadband; requiring Internet service providers to provide low-cost
broadband Internet to low-income Minnesotans; requiring reports; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 237.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [237.083] BROADBAND FOR LOW-INCOME MINNESOTANS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin For the purposes of this section, the term "broadband service"
has the meaning given in section 116J.39, subdivision 1, paragraph (b).
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Low-income service. new text end

new text begin (a) new text end new text begin Every person, business, or corporation, acting directly
or through an agent, that provides or seeks to provide broadband service in Minnesota must
offer broadband service to low-income consumers when a household is eligible for or
receiving:
new text end

new text begin (1) Minnesota family investment program benefits;
new text end

new text begin (2) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits;
new text end

new text begin (3) medical assistance; or
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new text begin (4) the low-income home energy assistance program under United States Code, title 42,
chapter 94, subchapter II, sections 8621 to 8629.
new text end

new text begin (b) The low-income broadband service under this section must provide a minimum
download speed of 25 megabits per second.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Cost. new text end

new text begin (a) Broadband service for low-income consumers under this section must
be provided at a cost of no more than:
new text end

new text begin (1) $15 per month for service that provides a minimum download speed of 25 megabits
per second; or
new text end

new text begin (2) $20 per month for service that provides a minimum download speed of 200 megabits
per second.
new text end

new text begin (b) The prices under this subdivision must be inclusive of any recurring taxes and fees
such as recurring rental fees for service provider equipment required to obtain broadband
service and usage fees. Broadband service providers shall allow low-income broadband
service subscribers to purchase standalone or bundled cable or phone services separately.
new text end

new text begin (c) After 30 days' notice to its customers and the commission, broadband service providers
may increase the price of the service required by this section by the lesser of the most recent
change in the consumer price index or two percent per year. Broadband service providers
may make a price increase under this paragraph:
new text end

new text begin (1) once every five years for plans under paragraph (a), clause (1); and
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new text begin (2) once every two years for plans under paragraph (a), clause (2).
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Exception. new text end

new text begin The requirements in subdivisions 2 and 3 of this section do not
apply to any broadband service provider providing service to no more than 20,000 households
if the commission determines that compliance with the requirements would result in
unreasonable or unsustainable financial impact on the broadband service provider.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Contracts. new text end

new text begin Any contract or agreement for broadband service targeted to
low-income consumers pursuant to this section or otherwise must have the same terms and
conditions, other than price and speed, as the regularly priced offerings for similar service.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Promotion. new text end

new text begin Every person, business, or corporation, acting directly or through
an agent, that provides or seeks to provide broadband service in Minnesota shall make all
commercially reasonable efforts to promote and advertise the availability of broadband
service for low-income consumers, including but not limited to the prominent display of,
and enrollment procedures for, the service on the provider's website and in any written and
commercial promotional materials developed to inform consumers who may be eligible for
service required by this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Reporting. new text end

new text begin Every person, business, or corporation, acting directly or through
an agent, that provides or seeks to provide broadband service in Minnesota shall submit to
the commission no later than November 15 of each year a compliance report that includes:
new text end

new text begin (1) a description of the service offered pursuant to this section;
new text end

new text begin (2) the number of consumers enrolled in the service;
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new text begin (3) a description of the procedures being used to verify the eligibility of customers
receiving the service;
new text end

new text begin (4) a description and samples of the advertising or marketing efforts undertaken to
advertise or promote the service;
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new text begin (5) a description of all retail-rate products, including pricing, offered by the person,
business, or corporation;
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new text begin (6) a description, including speed and price, of all broadband products offered in
Minnesota;
new text end

new text begin (7) the number of customers in arrears for the payment for broadband service, the
percentage of customers in arrears that qualify for low-income broadband service, the
number of households that have had their service terminated as a result of nonpayment, the
number of customers whose service was terminated for arrears arising from nonpayment
for services other than broadband service, and the number of households that have had their
broadband service restored after being delinquent on their payments; and
new text end

new text begin (8) any other information the commission requires.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Commission duties. new text end

new text begin By ..... and at least once every five years thereafter, the
commission, in consultation with the Office of Broadband Development, shall determine
if the minimum broadband download speed in this section should be increased to the Federal
Communications Commission's benchmark broadband download speed or to another
minimum broadband download speed if the Federal Communications Commission has not
increased the benchmark. The commission shall also:
new text end

new text begin (1) inform the public about available broadband products, including retail-rate product
offerings and low-income offerings; and
new text end

new text begin (2) periodically, but no less than once every five years, review eligibility and price
requirements for the low-income service required pursuant to this section and inform the
chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over
utility regulation if the commission recommends changing the requirements to meet the
needs of consumers.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Enforcement. new text end

new text begin The attorney general shall enforce this section under section
8.31.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective ..........
new text end