Bill Text: MI SB0970 | 2021-2022 | 101st Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Communications: technology; county broadband completion grant program; create. Creates new act.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-03-24 - Reassigned To Committee On Appropriations [SB0970 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2021-SB0970-Introduced.html
SENATE BILL NO. 970
A bill to establish and implement a county broadband completion grant program; to provide for certain grants; and to provide for the powers and duties of certain state and local governmental officers and entities.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
Sec. 1. This act may be cited as the "county broadband completion grant program act".
(a) "Broadband" means a retail service, not including a satellite service, capable of delivering high-speed internet access at speeds of not less than 100 megabits per second downstream and not less than 20 megabits per second upstream.
(b) "Broadband expansion plan" means a comprehensive, countywide broadband plan to expand broadband to every household within a county and provide access to broadband.
(c) "Department" means the department of technology, management, and budget.
(d) "Internet service provider" means any of the following:
(i) An entity holding a license under the Michigan telecommunications act, 1991 PA 179, MCL 484.2101 to 484.2603.
(ii) An entity holding a franchise under the uniform video services local franchise act, 2006 PA 480, MCL 484.3301 to 484.3315.
(iii) An entity currently providing broadband in this state.
(e) "Program" means the county broadband completion grant program created in section 3.
Sec. 3. (1) The department shall establish and implement a county broadband completion grant program. Money for the program must be provided by appropriation or by federal funding as provided by law and managed by the department. This state shall apply for any available federal resources that would support the program. The department may apply for and use additional money received from the federal government, including, but not limited to, the Rural Development Broadband ReConnect Program or similar program, to support the program.
(2) The department shall use money from the program only to award grants to applicants to support completion of a broadband expansion plan. A grant awarded under this act must not exceed 80% of the total cost of the broadband expansion plan.
(3) The department shall create an application process for a county to apply for grants under this act.
(4) To receive a grant under the program, a county shall do all of the following:
(a) Prepare a broadband expansion plan.
(b) Apply for the grant in a form and manner prescribed by the department.
(c) Provide not less than 20% of the cost to complete the broadband expansion plan. A county may use its own money and any money received from local municipalities to cover the county's portion of the cost of the broadband expansion plan.
(d) Identify where broadband is needed in the county.
(e) Contract with an internet service provider to complete the broadband expansion plan. The internet service provider that the county enters into a contract with shall contribute toward the county's portion of the cost of the broadband expansion plan under subdivision (c).
(5) The department shall give preference to an application to which both of the following apply:
(a) The application demonstrates savings by coordinating resources with local municipalities.
(b) The application provides that the internet service provider described in subsection (4) shall contribute not less than 5% toward the applying county's portion of the cost to complete the broadband expansion plan.
(6) If a county receives a grant under this act, the broadband expansion plan for which the grant was provided must be completed within either of the following time frames, as applicable:
(a) If the grant uses federal funding and federal law prescribes a time frame, the time frame prescribed by federal law.
(b) If the grant does not use federal funding or federal law does not prescribe a time frame, not more than 10 years after receiving the grant.
Enacting section 1. This act takes effect 60 days after the date it is enacted into law.
