HF3605 Summary

• Establishes a broadband line extension grant program through the Department of Employment and Economic Development to extend existing broadband infrastructure to unserved addresses with grants capped at $25,000 per line extension.

• Creates a portal for residents and businesses to report unavailable broadband service, with the department sharing address lists with broadband service providers every six months and providers given 10 days to claim served addresses.

• Implements a reverse auction process where broadband service providers bid on extending service to unserved addresses, with the department selecting bids requesting the least state financial support, provided they represent cost-effective expenditures.

• Limits program expenditures to $5,000,000 per fiscal year for fiscal years 2023, 2024, and 2025, with line extension agreements requiring providers to deliver speeds of at least 100 megabits per second download and upload.

• Authorizes broadband service providers to use existing or subsequently acquired easements to install broadband infrastructure after providing property owners with two written notices spaced at least two months apart, with property owners having six months to file a legal challenge for damages.