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Bill Title: Use of state funds for broadband projects. Defines a "qualified broadband project" as a project for the deployment of broadband infrastructure to provide broadband service for connections to the Internet at specified speeds, regardless of the delivery technology, in unserved areas in Indiana. Defines an "unserved area" as a geographic area of Indiana in which there is not at least one provider of terrestrial broadband service at the designated speeds. Provides that after June 30, 2019, the following apply with respect to grants made by state agencies (awarding agencies) for broadband infrastructure: (1) An awarding agency may not award a new state broadband grant unless the grant is for a qualified broadband project. (2) An awarding agency may allocate or release state funds for a state broadband grant awarded to a recipient before July 1, 2019, subject to certain conditions. (3) In awarding a new state broadband grant, an awarding agency must either: (A) evaluate all grant applications and determine all grant recipients and award amounts in accordance with the criteria set forth in the statute authorizing the office of community and rural affairs (office) to award broadband grants for qualified broadband service in unserved areas; or (B) submit all grant applications received to the office for: (i) evaluation; and (ii) the determination of grant recipients and award amounts, or the recommendation of grant recipients and award amounts; in accordance with the criteria set forth in the statute. Sets forth requirements for: (1) an awarding agency that elects to perform its own evaluations and determinations with respect to the agency's state broadband grants; and (2) an agency that elects to submit its grant applications to the office for: (A) evaluation; and (B) the determination or recommendation of grant recipients and award amounts. Makes a conforming amendment to the definition of "broadband services" set forth in the statute concerning the broadband ready communities development center.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-01-14 - First reading: referred to Committee on Utilities [SB0526 Detail]

Download: Indiana-2019-SB0526-Introduced.pdf

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