CHAPTER 67
S.P. 513 - L.D. 1632
Resolve, Directing the Maine Science and Technology Foundation to Determine the Technological, Economic and Public Policy Challenges and Opportunities for the Deployment of Broadband Information Technology Infrastructure to all Parts of the State
Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, information technology infrastructure is vital to the economic well-being of the State; and
Whereas, the rural areas of the State, most in need of economic development, tend to be the farthest behind in information technology infrastructure; and
Whereas, the advance of information technology is moving faster than ever before and can outpace the capabilities of existing infrastructure in even a matter of months; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it
Sec. 1. State Economist and Chief Information Officer to determine technological, economic and public policy challenges and opportunities for deployment of broadband information technology to all parts of State. Resolved: That the State Economist and the Chief Information Officer in the Department of Administrative and Financial Services shall determine the technological, economic and public policy challenges and opportunities for the deployment of broadband information technology infrastructure to all parts of the State; and be it further
Sec. 2. Working group and advisory panel. Resolved: That the Telecommunications Working Group, referred to in this resolve as the "working group," is established.
1. The working group consists of the following:
A. The Chief Information Officer in the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, who shall serve as the chair of the working group;
B. The State Economist;
C. The Director of Operations and Technology, Office of the Governor; and
D. The President of the Maine Science and Technology Foundation or the president's designee.
2. An advisory panel, referred to in this resolve as the "advisory panel," is established to provide information and advice to the working group members. The advisory panel consists of the following 17 members:
A. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development or the commissioner's designee;
B. The Commissioner of Education or the commissioner's designee;
C. The Chancellor of the University of Maine System or the chancellor's designee;
D. The Public Advocate or the Public Advocate's designee;
E. The chair of the Public Utilities Commission or the chair's designee;
F. Two representatives from regional or county economic development organizations in the State, appointed by the chair of the working group;
G. A member of the Board of Directors of the Maine Science and Technology Foundation, designated by the board;
H. A member of the Board of Directors of the Telephone Association of Maine or that member's designee, appointed by the chair of the working group;
I. A member of the Maine Telecommunications Users Group or that member's designee, appointed by the chair of the working group;
J. Four representatives of the telecommunications and Internet service providers industry, appointed by the chair of the working group;
K. A member of the board of the Electronic Commerce Forum of Maine, appointed by the chair of the working group;
L. The Executive Director of the Maine Rural Development Council or the executive director's designee; and
M. The State Director of the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Program in this State or the director's designee; and be it further
Sec. 3. Chair. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development or the commissioner's designee is the chair of the advisory panel; and be it further
Sec. 4. Appointments; meetings. Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. When the appointment of all members has been completed, the chair of the working group shall call and convene the first meeting of the working group and the advisory panel. Notice of all meetings must be given to the Executive Director of the Legislative Council and chairs of the Joint Standing Committee on Business and Economic Development and the Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy; and be it further
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the working group, in carrying out the purposes of this resolve, shall perform the following duties:
1. Identify specific geographic areas where advanced telecommunications capability is deployed at a significantly lower rate than the rest of the State;
2. Study the following:
A. The investment in telecommunications facilities with advanced capabilities in rural areas, including an assessment of the various levels of capability deployed under different technologies, the bandwidth capabilities of the deployment and whether or not comparable bandwidth is deployed consistently;
B. The availability of telecommunications backbone networks and "last mile" facilities with advanced capability in potentially underserved areas;
C. The technological, economic and public policy barriers to the wide deployment of broad bandwidth to all parts of the State;
D. The capability of various technological enhancements to existing wired and wireless networks to provide "last mile" advanced telecommunications capability in rural areas; and
E. The feasibility of various technological alternatives to provide "last mile" advanced telecommunications capability in rural areas; and
3. Identify successful strategies that have been implemented in other states and regions to deploy advanced telecommunications capability to rural areas; and be it further
Sec. 6. Compensation. Resolved: That the members of the working group and the advisory panel serve without compensation; and be it further
Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That the working group, after considering the information and advice provided to it by the advisory panel, shall conclude its work and report its findings and recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Business and Economic Development and the Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy no later than December 5, 2001. The Joint Standing Committee on Business and Economic Development and the Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy may report out legislation pursuant to this resolve to the Second Regular Session of the 120th Legislature. Upon submission of the required report, the working group and advisory panel terminate.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved.
Effective June 28, 2001.
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