Loading chat...
GA SB402
Bill
Status
Passed
5/7/2018
Primary Sponsor
Steve Gooch
Click for details
AI Summary
- Directs the Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Georgia Technology Authority, to establish a long-term policy for using interstate highway and state road rights of way for broadband deployment by public or private providers, with net revenues deposited into the state general fund
- Requires municipalities and counties to include promotion of broadband services deployment in their comprehensive plans, and directs the Department of Community Affairs to publish a statewide map of unserved areas (census blocks where 20% or more of locations lack broadband at 25/3 Mbps) by January 1, 2019
- Creates a "Broadband Ready Community" certification program administered by the Department of Community Affairs, requiring political subdivisions to adopt ordinances streamlining broadband network project permitting, including a single point of contact, timely application review, and reasonable, cost-based, nondiscriminatory fees (applications over $100 presumed unreasonable)
- Establishes the "Georgia Broadband Deployment Initiative" by July 1, 2019 to provide competitive grants and loans to eligible political subdivisions partnered with qualified broadband providers to expand service in unserved areas, with priority given to certified broadband ready communities
- Creates the "Georgia Broadband Ready Community Site Designation Program" to designate facilities offering at least 1 gigabit per second downstream service, and adds the Speaker of the House as co-vice chair of the OneGeorgia Authority board while expanding that authority's project scope to include broadband infrastructure
Legislative Description
"Achieving Connectivity Everywhere (ACE) Act"
Last Action
Act 423
5/7/2018
Full Bill Text
No bill text available