H 384 - FIBER NC Act Summary

• Authorizes counties and cities in North Carolina to install and lease broadband infrastructure to private providers, with infrastructure required to meet 25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload speeds or FCC standards.

• Counties must meet eligibility criteria: more than 4.75% of county without broadband provider according to FCC, or have a major military installation; cities must have 60% of population in qualifying counties.

• Requires counties and cities to prepare feasibility studies and business plans available for public review 90 days before public hearings, including assessment of underserved areas, prior grant funding, infrastructure maps, and funding sources.

• Mandates lease agreements be technology neutral and open to multiple qualified private providers; governing boards must solicit requests for proposals published at least 30 days in advance with specific required information.

• Prohibits counties and cities from directly providing communications services using constructed broadband infrastructure; counties retain ability to provide grants to private providers in unserved areas using unrestricted general fund revenue.