Bill > H7333

This bill, known as the Rhode Island Broadband Oversight and Accountability Act of 2026, aims to empower Rhode Island to better monitor and manage its broadband services by removing existing legal barriers that previously prevented such oversight. It specifically repeals language that prohibited state agencies from regulating, monitoring, or even planning for broadband performance or reliability, recognizing that reliable internet access is now crucial for essential services like healthcare, education, and public safety, and that Rhode Island needs to demonstrate oversight capacity to secure federal broadband funding. The bill also mandates that the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, within one year of the act's passage, develop and submit a comprehensive plan for establishing a broadband oversight authority or a similar structure, which will outline its mission, responsibilities, organizational framework, funding, and implementation timeline, ensuring that the state can effectively map broadband availability, monitor performance, coordinate federal investments, and promote equitable access to high-speed internet.

Business and Industry

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