1.Definitions.
As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
2.Fund established.
The Municipal Gigabit Broadband Network Access Fund is established as a nonlapsing, revolving fund administered by the authority for the purposes of supporting the activities and projects of the authority under this section. All money in the fund must be continuously applied by the authority to carry out this section. The authority may receive and deposit in the fund funds from the following sources:
3.Purpose of the fund.
The fund is established to address the need in the State for access to broadband infrastructure that will enhance the State's competitiveness in national and international economies. Except as described in subsection 3‑A,
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1.
Definitions.
As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
2.
Fund established.
The Municipal Gigabit Broadband Network Access Fund is established as a nonlapsing, revolving fund administered by the authority for the purposes of supporting the activities and projects of the authority under this section. All money in the fund must be continuously applied by the authority to carry out this section. The authority may receive and deposit in the fund funds from the following sources:
3.
Purpose of the fund.
The fund is established to address the need in the State for access to broadband infrastructure that will enhance the State's competitiveness in national and international economies. Except as described in subsection 3‑A, to the extent funds are available, the fund must be used to provide grants to municipalities to support public-private partnerships to support a municipal gigabit fiber-optic broadband network in their regions with the following goals:
3-A.
Purpose of the fund; grant match funding.
In addition to grants provided in accordance with subsection 3, the fund may be used to provide grant match funding to municipal entities applying for project grants from other sources that require applicants to provide matching funds. To the extent that funds are available, grant match funding may be awarded for a project under this subsection only if the authority finds the project is consistent with the purposes stated in subsection 3. A municipal entity selected for grant match funding under this subsection must provide services to any unserved community anchor institution in the project area to which the municipal entity is extending services that provides or will provide open access to the Internet for the public. For purposes of this subsection, "municipal entity" means a municipality or a group of municipalities working together to support a gigabit fiber-optic broadband network project. The authority shall, by rule, define an applicant's "project area" and "unserved community anchor institution" for the purposes of this subsection. The authority may also adopt other rules to administer grant match funding awards under this subsection.
4.
Implementation grants; maximum awards.
To the extent funds are available, the authority shall award implementation grants to achieve the purpose of the fund as described in subsections 3 and 3‑A as follows.
5.
Planning grants; requirements for applicants.
In order to assist applicants with completion of the planning process necessary to achieve the goals of this section, to the extent funds are available, the authority may award planning grants to applicants that meet the cash match and other application requirements for the award of planning grants, as established by the authority.
6.
Planning grant report requirements.
An applicant awarded a planning grant under subsection 5 must provide to the authority, at a minimum:
7.
Cash match for planning grants; restrictions.
8.
Technical assistance; contract for services.
The authority may provide technical assistance to applicants that request assistance with the grant application process. The authority may contract for services to assist in the administration, management and evaluation of the fund.
9.
Rules; application procedure.
10.
Report.
Beginning December 15, 2016, the authority shall provide an annual report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over energy and utility matters on the grants distributed from the fund and an analysis of the fund's activities that have addressed the need for expansion of broadband access in the State.