H 197 - Broadband Changes/DIT.-AB

• Modifies federal broadband grant programs to expand eligibility from households to include businesses, State facilities, and community anchor institutions.

• Reduces the Department of Information Technology's allowable use of initial B.E.A.D. grant funds from 3% to 1% for planning and from 2% to 1.5% for administrative purposes, while adding authorization for Digital Equity planning funds.

• Restructures the Information Technology Strategy Board by requiring the chair to be elected by majority vote of Board members and prohibiting the State CIO or Department employees from serving as chair.

• Excludes broadband mapping, broadband services, and broadband deployment programs from the Information Technology Strategy Board's authority.

• Requires the Department of Information Technology to develop and submit a formal challenge process conforming to federal B.E.A.D. regulations to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology by December 1, 2023.