AK HB246

Establishes the Alaska Broadband Development Corporation as a public corporation within the Department of Administration to facilitate planning, financing, and operation of broadband systems throughout the state.

Corporation governed by 8-member board: 6 voting members appointed by governor with expertise in telehealth, rural broadband development, federal programs, broadband adoption, and network operations; 2 nonvoting legislative members.

Corporation authorized to apply for federal grants and private funding to plan and construct broadband infrastructure connecting underserved and unserved areas to fiber-optic cables, and to sell transmission services to retail providers at wholesale rates.

Designates corporation as an eligible telecommunications carrier under federal law (47 U.S.C. 214(e)) to qualify for federal support programs.

Amends utility definitions to include broadband Internet access services as a public utility, defining "broadband Internet access" as high-speed, always-on access faster than dial-up.