State Broadband Task Forces, Commissions or Authorities
and Other Broadband Resources
Broadband Task Forces, Commissions, or Authorities | State Legislative Reports | Federal Reports and Resources | Other Reports and Resources | NCSL Contacts
Updated: April 28, 2010
State Broadband Task Forces, Commissions, or Authorities
Alabama Broadband Initiative
In May 2008, Governor Bob Riley signed Executive Order #42 creating the Alabama Broadband Initiative (ALBI). This effort was launched to extend the benefits of advanced broadband technology to every community in the state through collaborative partnerships with governmental and private sector stakeholders. The scope of this project includes broadband research, mapping, deployment and adoption across all 67 counties of the state. ALBI will contract with an organization to implement a statewide deployment strategy and adoption effort to ensure ubiquitous access to reliable and affordable high-speed Internet service. The effort will also improve technology literacy, increase computer ownership and use among residents and businesses, establish local grassroots technology teams to improve technology use across multiple community sectors, and create an environment that fosters broadband access and technology investment.
Arkansas Broadband Advisory Council
On March 28, 2007, Governor Beebe signed Act 604 into law creating the Arkansas Broadband Advisory Council (re-named the Arkansas Broadband Council by Act 947 of 2009) and encouraging the non-profit Arkansas Capital Corporation to create a non-profit Connect Arkansas. While Connect Arkansas’s initiatives are focused on broadband education and facilitation, the Arkansas Broadband Council advises the Governor and the General Assembly on policies related to making affordable broadband available to every Arkansas home and business. The Council also monitors the broadband based development efforts of other states and nations in areas such as business, education, and health.
California Broadband Task Force
Governor Schwarzenegger in November 2006 signed an executive order to create a the California Broadband Task Force that brought experts from government and business to work together to identify and eliminate obstacles to making broadband internet access ubiquitous in the state. Within the Broadband Task Force are six working groups: Build-Out, Economic Development, Education, Emerging Technologies and New Applications, Health Care, and Public-Private Partnerships for Community Development. The working groups are developing recommendations for consideration by the task force. The Task Force issued its Final Report in January 2008.
Connecticut Broadband Internet Coordinating Council
The Connecticut Broadband Internet Coordinating Council was established pursuant to Section 3 of Substitute House Bill No. 7282, Public Act No. 07-254, C.G.S. 4d-100. The legislation was the result of a December 2006 study by the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering entitled, “Advanced Communications Technologies.” The council's charge is to monitor trends and developments in the state's efforts to develop a state-wide world-class communications infrastructure.
Hawaii Broadband Task Force
2007 H.B. 310, Act 2 (Special Session 2007) established Hawaii's Broadband Task Force. The task force is directed to remove barriers against broadband deployment by using a technology-neutral approach to encourage lower prices for broadband services and create more consumer choices. The task force's purpose is to gain wider access to public rights-of-way; identify opportunities for increased broadband deployment and adoption, including very high speed broadband services; and enable the creation and deployment of new advanced communication technologies in Hawaii. The Task Force's initial report was issued in 2007.
Connect Kansas
Connect Kansas was commissioned by the Kansas Department of Commerce to work with all broadband providers in the state of Kansas to create detailed maps of broadband coverage in order to accurately pinpoint remaining gaps in broadband availability in Kansas. Connect Kansas will continue to develop and update the broadband data as it is collected and the services that can be made available to public and private entities as well as citizens.
ConnectKentucky
ConnectKentucky, Kentucky's technology-based economic development partnership, is an alliance of technology-minded businesses, government entities, and universities working together to accelerate technology in the Commonwealth. ConnectKentucky supports statewide broadband infrastructure expansion, technology planning, and public policy.
Maine ConnectMe Authority
The Maine ConnectME Authority (codified in 35 M.R.S. §9201) was enacted by the legislature with the goal of expanding broadband access in the most rural, un-served areas of the state that have little prospect of service from a traditional provider. The Authority’s purpose is to identify un-served areas of the State; develop proposals for broadband expansion projects, demonstration projects and other initiatives; and administer the process for selecting specific broadband projects and providing funding, resources, and incentives. The Authority is funded by a 0.25 percent surcharge on instate retail communications services and funds proposals through grants, direct investments, or loans made on behalf of, in partnership with, or in support of, one or more communications service providers.
Maryland Rural Broadband Task Force
The Maryland Task Force for the Deployment of Broadband in Rural Maryland was established during the 2003 General Assembly session, and in 2005, the General Assembly extended it through June 2006. The task force examined what works best in other regions of the country to expand broadband communications to rural communities. Next, the Task Force considered resources, infrastructure, and cost structures available in Maryland's rural regions to develop or access broadband communications. To establish and enhance broadband communications in the state's rural areas, the task force developed proposals and made recommendations to meet predetermined goals for deployment of effective broadband communications in unserved and underserved areas of the state. The task force recommended legislation, budget provisions or amendments, and changes in state procurement policy.
Minnesota High-Speed Broadband Task Force
Minnesota created a High Speed Task Force when the legislature passed 2008 S.F. 1918. The Minnesota High-Speed Broadband Task Force is responsible for making recommendations to the governor and legislature regarding the creation of a statewide high-speed Internet access goal, and creating a plan for implementation by 2015. The Minnesota Ultra High-Speed Task Force acts in an advisory capacity to identify the level of broadband service needed and to determine appropriate goal regarding technical and financial aspects of statewide broadband Internet access.
Missouri Rural High-Speed Internet Access Task Force
Missouri Governor George Blunt created, by executive order, the Rural High-Speed Internet Access Task Force in November 2007 to identify opportunities to increase access to technology across the state. Blunt directed the task force to: 1) assess the current level of high-speed Internet access available in Missouri; 2) identify barriers to deployment to underserved areas including economic, geographic, regulatory, and market barriers; 3) identify potential options to increase the deployment of high-speed Internet access in underserved communities; 4) review best practices in other states to increase high-speed Internet access; and 5) recommend statutory, regulatory, and policy changes needed to increase the availability of high-speed Internet services across the state.
Nebraska Broadband Services Task Force
Established by 2005 L.B. 645 in October 2005, the Nebraska Broadband Services Task Force discussed issues related to broadband services in Nebraska. The task force identified trends regarding broadband deployment, changing consumer demands, and evolving technologies that impact both wholesale and retail broadband services. The task force concluded that private broadband providers are successfully deploying facilities to serve Nebraska’s needs and that competition by public power suppliers in providing wholesale broadband services is unnecessary at this time. However, future technological developments require the state’s attention to ensure citizens have access to changing broadband offerings. The Broadband Services Task Force's Final Report was released Nov 22, 2006. In 2009, L.B. 154 eliminated the Broadband Services Task Force.
New York State Council for Universal Broadband
The New York State Council for Universal Broadband was created by former Governor Elliott Spitzer in 2007. The council is charged with creating, through a competitive grant process, integrated and inclusive public/private partnerships to rapidly deploy affordable broadband services. The Council will recommend a comprehensive statewide strategy that charts a course towards affordable broadband access throughout the State. The approach will seek to leverage existing resources, consider new ways to extend high-speed Internet access beyond traditional means, and recommend approaches to increase digital literacy in underserved urban and rural communities.
North Carolina e-NC Authority
On Aug. 2, 2000, the North Carolina General Assembly created the Rural Internet Access Authority through 2000 S.B. 1343. The bill created this organization to study and report on North Carolina's telecommunications infrastructure and to increase Internet use. The Authority has been given additional powers under 2003 H.B. 1194 and 2005 S.B. 1741. Those bills created the e-NC Authority to continue the work of the Rural Internet Access Authority and extended the sunset of the e-NC Authority to Dec. 31, 2011.
Connect Ohio
Governor Ted Strickland on Dec. 17, 2007, launched Connect Ohio, a public-private partnership that seeks to expand broadband services across the state by working with local communities and providers to map gaps in access. Connect Ohio’s three-year strategy involves a partnership between the state and broadband providers to create detailed maps of broadband coverage in order to accurately pinpoint remaining gaps in broadband availability in Ohio. Connect Ohio will also work to establish public-private partnerships that will assist in supplying computers to areas that have broadband service but lack computer access.
Oregon Broadband Advisory Council
Oregon’s Broadband Advisory Council was created by 2009 H.B. 3158. The Council’s mission is to develop and ensure the implementation of a statewide broadband network with a focus on extending broadband access to unserved and underserved communities across Oregon. It aims to ensure that Oregon citizens can take full advantage of the commerce, education, and health and safety benefits provided by broadband Internet access. It also will encourage public-private partnerships to promote the deployment of broadband and will report to the legislature on the affordability and accessibility of broadband technology in all areas of Oregon.
South Carolina Broadband Technology and Communications Study Committee
The South Carolina Broadband Technology and Communications Study Committee was created by 2007 Act 169. The committee's final report, completed in February 2008, recommends that the state create a public-private partnership to promote the deployment and adoption of broadband services in the state. to evaluate the state's broadband communications infrastructure and assess the availability of and need for broadband services in unserved and underserved areas within the state.
Tennessee Broadband Task Force
The Tennessee Broadband Task Force was created by 2005 H.B. 2152. In its initial recommendations to the governor and the General Assembly, the task force cited the model established by Connected Nation in Kentucky and encouraged the initiation of similar efforts in Tennessee. In 2007, Connected Tennessee was established as an independent non-profit organization. Connected Tennessee aims to accelerate the availability and use of technology towards creating a better business environment, more effective community and economic development, improved healthcare, enhanced education, and more efficient government.
Vermont Telecommunications Authority
The Vermont Legislature enacted 2007 H.B. 248, Act 79, creating the Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA), charging it to ensure that high-speed Internet and cell phone service is available in every corner of Vermont by the end of 2010. The VTA was charged with the following powers and duties: to issue revenue bonds up to $40 million to fund broadband and wireless telecommunications projects; gather data on wireless and broadband infrastructure and services; provide financial assistance in the form of loans, grants, guarantees and other financial instruments to fill in gaps in wireless and broadband coverage; incorporate one or more non-profits to take advantage of grants and other financing available only to non-profits; own, lease, and contract for telecommunications facilities and services for unserved areas; provide assistance to municipalities to deploy infrastructure and attract services; and waive fees required for access to state-owned transportation rights of way for broadband and wireless telecommunications providers in exchange for comparable value to the state.
Virginia Broadband Roundtable
On June 13, 2007, Governor Kaine announced the formation of the Virginia Broadband Roundtable to accelerate the attainment of his economic strategic goal of having affordable broadband connectivity to every business in the Commonwealth by 2010. The Broadband Roundtable is charged with delivering a “blueprint” to assist communities with broadband planning and deployment. Roundtable members include local, national, and international leaders with a strong track record of innovating in the telecommunications industry.
Virginia Office of Telework Promotion and Broadband Assistance
In 2006, Governor Kaine signed Executive Order 35 creating the Office of Telework Promotion and Broadband Assistance. The duties of the office include promoting and encouraging use of telework alternatives for public and private employees, including appropriate policy and legislative initiatives, and supporting the efforts of both public and private entities within the Commonwealth to enhance or facilitate the deployment of, and access to competitively priced, advanced broadband services.
Federal Reports and Resources
The National Broadband Plan: Connecting America, Federal Communications Commission.
Federal Communications Commission, Broadband Web Site
State Broadband Data and Development Program, National Telecommunications & Information Agency
Rural Development: Bringing Broadband to Rural America, U.S.D.A., June 14, 2007
Broadband Opportunities for Rural America Web Site, Federal Communications Commission/U.S. Department of Agriculture
CRS Issue Brief for Congress, Broadband Internet Regulation and Access: Background and Issues, Congressional Research Service, April 2006
CRS Report for Congress, Broadband Internet Access and the Digital Divide: Federal Assistance Programs, Congressional Research Service, October 31, 2006
Broadband Deployment Is Extensive throughout the United States, but It Is Difficult to Assess the Extent of Deployment Gaps in Rural Areas, U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-06-426, May 2006
State Legislative Reports
Promoting High-Speed Internet Access, Connecticut Office of Legislative Research, August 2007
Broadband Over Power Lines, Connecticut Office of Legislative Research, Feb. 2005
Expanding Broadband Access in Underserved Areas, Texas House Research Organization, June 2004
New Law Regarding Municipal Cable Television, Telecommunications, and Broadband Services, Wisconsin Legislative Council, 2004
Other Reports and Materials
Broadband Investment for Economic Recovery: Perspectives of an Ad-Hoc Group of State Broadband Entities, February 9, 2009
Arizona Department of Commerce
Arizona Broadband Initiative and Framework: Analysis and Report, April 2007
The report examines 14 state and six local or regional programs that may prove helpful to Arizona in crafting a program that meets the state’s needs. These programs are taking steps to improve the deployment of broadband telecommunications infrastructure to historically unserved or underserved areas.
Connected Nation
Connected Nation, Inc. is a national non-profit organization committed to closing the digital divide. Through public-private partnerships, we are increasing broadband availability and creating demand for this new-age technology so people and communities can live and work with more ease and benefit.
Pew Internet & American Life Project
Measuring Broadband: Improving Communications Policymaking through Better Data Collection, November 14, 2007
Policymakers see the need for better data, and this report contains recommendations on principles to guide efforts to improve data collection.
Why We Don't Know Enough About Broadband in the U.S., November 14, 2007
This article puts the rate of home broadband adoption in historical context before discussing in detail the issues surrounding broadband data collection
Home Broadband Adoption 2007, July 3, 2007
Forty-seven percent of adults have high-speed internet connections at home as of early March 2007, up five percentage points from a year earlier.
Home Broadband Adoption 2008, July 2, 2008
Some 55 percent of all adult Americans now have a high-speed internet connection at home. The percentage of Americans with broadband at home has grown from 47 percent in early 2007. Poorer Americans saw no growth in broadband adoption in the past year while at the same time nearly one-third of broadband users pay more to get faster connections.
Home Broadband Adoption 2009, June 2009
Broadband adoption increases, but rates do too.
Internet Penetration and Impact, April 26, 2006
Internet penetration has now reached 73 percent for all American adults. Internet users note big improvements in their ability to shop and the way they pursue hobbies and personal interests online.
Rural Areas and the Internet, February 17, 2004
Historically, Internet penetration rates have been lower in rural areas than in other kinds of communities. Rural Internet penetration has remained roughly 10 percentage points behind the national average in the last four years.
National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO)
NASCIO Broadband Publications:
Bowling for Broadband: The Role of the State CIO in Promoting High-Speed Internet Access, September 2004
Bowling for Broadband 2: Toward Citizen-Centric, Broadband-Based E-Government, August 2006
TechNet
The State Broadband Index: An Assessment of State Policies Impacting Broadband Deployment and Demand, July 2003
This report, prepared by Analysys Consulting for TechNet, examines the key role that states can play in helping to make broadband available to all Americans. is the bipartisan, political network of CEOs and Senior Executives that promotes the growth of technology and the innovation economy. TechNet focuses on politics and policy by bringing its members together with our nation's policy makers to sustain and advance America's global leadership in innovation.
NCSL Broadband Contacts:
State Issues: Pam Greenberg and Jo Anne Bourquard, NCSL Denver Office, 303-364-7700
Federal Issues: James Ward, NCSL Washington D.C. Office, 202-624-5400
NOTE: These materials are provided for information purposes only. Providing these links does not necessarily indicate NCSL's support or endorsement of the sites.
|