Bill > LD465

This bill amends existing law to eliminate the "Broadband Sustainability Fee," which was a fee imposed on entities that purchase or lease "federally supported dark fiber" – essentially unused fiber optic cables that have received federal funding. The bill changes the end dates for the "first assessment period" and "second assessment period" during which these fees were collected, setting them to 90 days after the adjournment of the First Regular Session of the 127th Legislature, effectively ending the fee collection. Furthermore, it redirects the purpose of the "broadband sustainability fund," which was previously used to provide funds to incumbent local exchange carriers (companies that provide traditional phone and internet services) for deploying broadband infrastructure, to now directly support and promote broadband service in unserved or underserved areas. The bill also removes provisions related to how funds were allocated and disbursed to these carriers, and eliminates the requirement for them to certify how the funds would be used, simplifying the process and focusing on the broader goal of expanding broadband access.