NC S1440

Creates a Joint Broadband-Smart Grid Task Force with 19 voting members and ex-officio nonvoting members to examine the interoperability of telecommunications and smart grid applications in North Carolina.

Task Force membership includes 9 members appointed by the House Speaker (3 legislators, 2 telecommunications providers, 1 academic, 1 environmental nonprofit representative, 1 economist, 1 public member) and 9 members appointed by the Senate President Pro Tempore (3 senators, 2 telecommunications providers, 1 electric energy provider, 1 alternative energy provider, 1 financial professional, 1 public member), plus 1 additional public member elected by the other 18 members.

Directs the Task Force to review smart meter incentives, broadband deployment funding, building design standards, teleconferencing/telehealth feasibility, state policies affecting smart grid advancement, and economic impacts of energy-broadband integration on North Carolina's global competitiveness.

Appropriates $25,000 to the General Assembly and $50,000 to the e-NC Authority for fiscal year 2010-2011 to support the Task Force's work.

Task Force must report to the 2011 General Assembly upon convening and terminates after filing its report; becomes effective July 1, 2010.