Signed by Governor Henry McMaster

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that expands internet access to rural communities to increase access to remote learning.

Highlights:

• Authorizes electric cooperatives to invest in or deploy broadband facilities and provide broadband services in this state while ensuring that appropriate protections are in place to ensure that electric cooperatives do not have an unfair competitive advantage over other broadband service providers and that the provisions of broadband services by electric cooperatives do not unduly burden their electric service customers (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that it is the public policy of the state to encourage and facilitate the development and investment in broadband facilities in order to facilitate access to broadband services at all locations in the state, as this development is vital and necessary to induce, create, and promote industrial economic development and to create job opportunities, and enhance educational advancement in the state (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that is the public policy of this state to promote the efficient deployment of broadband facilities and encourage the continued expanded investment in broadband infrastructure (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the advancement of communications capabilities to be installed within existing easements and other rights-of-way in a manner that protects the right of landowners (Sec. 1).

• Defines a “broadband facility” as any infrastructure used to deliver broadband service and “broadband services” as a landline or wireless service that has a minimum download speed of 25 megabits per second and minimum upload speeds of 3 megabits per second, and a “broadband service provider” the following (Sec. 1):

• An individual that provides retail broadband service to end-user customers; and

• An existing broadband service provider.

• Requires that in order to assist an electric cooperative in the planning, engineering, construction, extension, provision, operation, repair, and maintenance of broadband facilities, an electric cooperative or its broadband affiliate must do the following, including (Sec. 1):

• Apply for, accept, repay, and utilize loans, grants, and other financings from any person; and

• Enter into contracts, agreements, partnerships, or other types of business relationships with any person.

Full Bill Text