HB 950 – Expand Broadband-Unserved/Underserved Areas

Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Karl Gillespie (R-Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Macon); Rep. Jason Saine (R-Lincoln); Rep. Brian Farkas (D-Pitt); Rep. Michael Wray (D-Halifax, Northampton)

 

 

Summary

This bill establishes a broadband deployment bid process to connect unserved and underserved households in county locations within one mile of existing broadband infrastructure. Specifically, this bill:

  • Allows counties to identify eligible areas to coordinate with a qualified private provider to expand broadband services to unserved households.
  • Requires counties, when selecting among multiple bidders, to prioritize bids where an eligible provider agrees to provide a minimum of 1 gigabyte per second, symmetrical, within 48 months of project completion and to projects that will provide higher broadband speeds to households in the project area.
  • Establishes the County Broadband Deployment Fund and states that moneys in the Fund may only be allocated for use in connection with bid award agreements entered into between a county and a qualified private provider.
  • Appropriates $25M in nonrecurring funds for the 2021-2022 fiscal year to the County Broadband Deployment Fund.

 

Movement

Filed – 5/11/2021