AK HB346

Establishes the Broadband Development Corporation as a public corporation in the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development to facilitate, upgrade, plan, finance, install, own, operate, and promote broadband systems throughout Alaska.

Creates an 11-member board of directors (9 voting, 2 non-voting) appointed by the governor with expertise in technology, rural broadband development, public broadcasting, and broadband network operations.

Requires the corporation to sell middle-mile transport services to retail providers at wholesale prices with just, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory rates, and prohibits any entity from controlling more than one-third of capacity on middle-mile routes or one-half of total system capacity.

Establishes the Alaska Broadband Task Force with 9 members to assess current broadband access levels, determine acceptable service standards, recommend regulatory changes and investment incentives, and submit initial findings by December 31, 2017 and final recommendations by February 1, 2018.

Creates a public finance working group under the task force to develop a finance plan for implementing broadband recommendations, with membership including state commissioners, banking industry representatives, and University of Alaska representation.