2014 -- H 8136 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY BROADBAND

SERVICES AND ACCESSIBILITY

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Finn, Kazarian, Blazejewski, Keable, and Hearn

     Date Introduced: May 01, 2014

     Referred To: House Small Business

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     WHEREAS, Within the State of Rhode Island, effective economic development today

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requires collaboration and communication among business, local and state government,

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education, healthcare, tourism, and community leaders in order to grow jobs, maintain existing

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employment, and provide for the common good; and

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      WHEREAS, High-speed internet access, also known as broadband, has become an

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essential element of economic vitality, enhancing economic development and public safety for

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the state's communities, improving healthcare and educational opportunities, and providing a

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better quality of life for our state's residents; and

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     WHEREAS, Continued progress in the deployment, adoption, and utilization rate of

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broadband is vital to ensuring that Rhode Island remains competitive in the global economy; and

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     WHEREAS, Rhode Island is ranked number one among the United States in broadband

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speed and has the technical infrastructure in place to connect every Rhode Islander to high-speed

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internet; and

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     WHEREAS, A digital divide exists in pockets of Rhode Island that do not enjoy the

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benefits of high-speed broadband; and for Rhode Island to compete in the digital age,

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collaborative action is needed to improve Rhode Islanders' internet access to increase the

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integration of online learning, increased job searching, and attainment and accessibility of

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government resources; and

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     WHEREAS, According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2012, 75 percent of Rhode

 

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Islanders accessed the internet which exceeded the national average of 74 percent, nevertheless,

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the state lags behind the five regional states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,

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Vermont, and Maine; and

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     WHEREAS, Rhode Island must encourage, support, and further facilitate public/private

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partnerships that continue the growth, adoption, and access to broadband for all of Rhode Island's

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citizens and businesses, most particularly in underserved rural and urban areas; now, therefore be

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it

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     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission on broadband services and

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accessibility be and the same is hereby created consisting of fourteen (14) members: four (4) of

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whom shall be members of the Senate, not more than three (3) from the same political party, to be

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appointed by the President of the Senate; four (4) of whom shall be members of the House, not

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more than three (3) from the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker; one of whom

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shall be the Rhode Island Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, or designee;

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one of whom shall be the of the Chairperson of the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission or

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designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Commerce

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Corporation, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Emergency

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Management Agency or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island

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Department of Health or designee; and one of whom shall be the Chief Information Officer of the

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Rhode Island Division of Information Technology, or designee.

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      In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

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commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

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resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

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of a legislator, provided that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which

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is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public.

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     The purpose of said commission shall be to:

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     • Identify the current level of broadband service state-wide, including connection

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speeds for sending and receiving data that will be reasonably needed by all citizens by 2015;

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     • Analyze the policies and actions necessary to eliminate obstacles to the

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investment in and the identification of areas in the state that currently lack the infrastructure

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necessary to support broadband service;

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     • Identify and address the digital gap in both the minority and rural communities;

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     • Explore opportunities for potential public/private sector partnerships;

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     • Evaluate the various strategies, financing methods, and financial incentives used

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in other states and countries to support the deployment of high-speed broadband;

 

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     • Review the security, vulnerability, and redundancy actions necessary to ensure

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the reliability of high-speed broadband;

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     • Explore the economic development opportunities made possible by the wide

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dissemination of high-speed broadband;

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     • Examine how access to high-speed broadband can benefit educational

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institutions, healthcare institutions, community-based organizations, and government institutions;

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and

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     • Assess the current public centers for broadband access as well as potential future

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plans to enhance access to underserved communities throughout the state.

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     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

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the call of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House and organize. The President

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of the Senate and the Speaker of the House shall each select one member to serve as co-

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chairpersons of the commission.

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     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

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     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

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     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

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documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

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desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

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     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

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suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and results to the General

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Assembly on or before March 31, 2015, and said commission shall expire on April 30, 2015.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY BROADBAND

SERVICES AND ACCESSIBILITY

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     This resolution would create a fourteen (14) member special legislative commission

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whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study of broadband services and

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accessibility throughout the state, and who would report back to the General Assembly on or

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before March 31, 2015, and said commission would expire on April 30, 2015.

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