1.2relating to taxation; sales and use; reinstating the exemption for
1.3telecommunications equipment;amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section
1.4297A.68, by adding a subdivision.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 297A.68, is amended by adding a
1.7subdivision to read:
1.8    Subd. 35a. Telecommunications and pay television machinery and equipment.
1.9(a) Telecommunications or pay television machinery and equipment purchased or leased
1.10for use directly by a telecommunications or pay television service provider primarily in
1.11the provision of telecommunications or pay television services that are ultimately to be
1.12sold at retail are exempt, regardless of whether purchased by the owner, a contractor,
1.13or a subcontractor.
1.14(b) For purposes of this subdivision, "telecommunications or pay television
1.15machinery and equipment" includes, but is not limited to:
1.16(1) machinery, equipment, and fixtures utilized in receiving, initiating,
1.17amplifying, processing, transmitting, retransmitting, recording, switching, or monitoring
1.18telecommunications, or pay television services, such as computers, transformers,
1.19amplifiers, routers, bridges, repeaters, multiplexers, and other items performing
1.20comparable functions;
1.21(2) machinery, equipment, and fixtures used in the transportation of
1.22telecommunications, or pay television services, radio transmitters and receivers, satellite
1.23equipment, microwave equipment, and other transporting media, but not wire, cable,
1.24fiber, poles, or conduit;
2.1(3) ancillary machinery, equipment, and fixtures that regulate, control, protect, or
2.2enable the machinery in clauses (1) and (2) to accomplish its intended function, such as
2.3auxiliary power supply, test equipment, towers, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning
2.4equipment necessary to the operation of the telecommunications, cable television, or direct
2.5satellite equipment; and software necessary to the operation of the telecommunications
2.6or pay television equipment; and
2.7(4) repair and replacement parts, including accessories, whether purchased as spare
2.8parts, repair parts, or as upgrades or modifications to qualified machinery or equipment.
2.9EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective retroactively for sales and purchases
2.10made after June 30, 2013. Refunds for sales tax paid on items exempted under this section
2.11may be applied for and paid in the same manner as capital equipment refunds under
2.12Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.75.