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MS HB619

Bill

Status

Failed

2/5/2019

Primary Sponsor

William Arnold

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

2019 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Creates the Mississippi Broadband Enabling Act to authorize electric cooperatives to own, construct, and operate broadband systems as part of their electric delivery systems.

  • Permits electric cooperatives to establish broadband affiliates and allow unaffiliated broadband operators to use their electric delivery systems to provide broadband services, with the cooperative determining exclusive access rights at its discretion.

  • Prohibits state agencies, instrumentalities, and political subdivisions from regulating the facilities, operations, or services of broadband affiliates or operators using an electric cooperative's system.

  • Requires electric cooperatives to maintain electric system reliability and prohibits requiring customers to purchase broadband services as a condition of receiving electric service or threatening service disconnection for unpaid broadband bills.

  • Establishes that broadband system use does not require additional landowner consent and limits landowner remedies to circuit court claims for property damage against the broadband operator only, with damages based on property value difference before and after broadband installation.

Legislative Description

Mississippi Broadband Enabling Act; create.

Last Action

Died In Committee

2/5/2019

Committee Referrals

Public Utilities1/16/2019

Full Bill Text

No bill text available