NOTE: §1363 eff. upon appropriation of funds sufficient to fully fund the office of broadband and connectivity. See Acts 2020, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 24.

NOTE: Section heading and intro. para. as amended and reenacted by Acts 2022, No. 760, eff. June 18, 2022.

§1363. Functions, powers, and duties

            The office of broadband development and connectivity, by and through the executive director or his employees, shall have the following functions, powers, and duties:

            (1) To provide comprehensive information relating to broadband and connectivity in the state upon request to any person or government agency.

            (2) To promote and encourage broadband adoption for households that have not accessed services.

            (3) To study and identify barriers to households that have not adopted broadband services.

            (4) To advise and assist any person or government agency in addressing particular broadband and connectivity needs, including cooperative efforts among such persons and agencies.

            (5) To establish procedures to review and comment on the federal mapping initiative created by the Broadband DATA Act, P.L. 116-130 that precisely maps the availability of broadband services to every home and business in the state.

            (6) To research programs relating to broadband and connectivity services and receive notification from every person and government agency engaged in the provision of broadband and connectivity services of program descriptions, appropriation data, and application procedures. The office shall maintain a listing of existing programs and advise persons or government agencies of their existence.

            (7) To assist, upon request, applicant persons or government agencies in obtaining timely and efficient responses from state and federal agencies; to assist the applicants in consideration of program grant strategies; to assist state and federal agencies in cooperative approaches to address the needs of the applicants; and to provide technical assistance to government agencies in formulating and implementing broadband expansion and connectivity programs.

            (8) To encourage the assistance of the private sector, including broadband service providers, to effectuate the deployment and access to broadband and other connectivity services to all residents of the state.

            (9) To assist the governor and the legislature in the development and integration of a broadband deployment plan and long-range plans to more effectively and efficiently provide access to any new connectivity options.

            (10) To analyze and make recommendations concerning proposed state legislation or programs that may affect the expansion of broadband and other connectivity services.

            (11) To apply for, receive, and administer grants or financial assistance from persons or government agencies.

            (12) To adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations, procedures, instructions, and forms as are deemed necessary to implement the functions, powers, and duties imposed upon the office by this Chapter in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act.

            (13) To do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the functions, powers, and duties expressly set forth in this Chapter.

            Acts 2020, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 24, §3, see Act; Acts 2022, No. 760, §1, eff. June 18, 2022.