HB 21-1109 Summary

• Moves the Broadband Deployment Board from the Department of Regulatory Agencies to the Office of Information Technology, effective September 1, 2021

• Reduces board membership from 16 to 11 voting members and modifies composition requirements to include representation from the Office of Information Technology, local entities, broadband industry providers, and the public

• Establishes a request for proposal (RFP) process through which the board reserves up to 60% of annual High Cost Support Mechanism funding to award grants for broadband projects serving critically unserved areas identified by the Office of Information Technology

• Requires the board to give additional consideration to proposed projects that provide discounted broadband service to low-income households when evaluating grant applications

• Requires applicants to submit granular coverage data showing service availability by location, with such data exempt from public disclosure under Colorado's Open Records Act