2014 -- S 2827 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: Senators Pichardo, Paiva Weed, Algiere, Conley, and Goodwin

     Date Introduced: March 25, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

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

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

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

employment, and provide for the common good; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

internet; and

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

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

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

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

government resources; and

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

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

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

Vermont, and Maine; and

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

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

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

it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission on broadband services and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rhode Island Division of Information Technology, or designee.

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

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

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

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

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

     The purpose of said commission shall be to:

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

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

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

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

necessary to support broadband service;

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

     • Explore opportunities for potential public/private sector partnerships;

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

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

the reliability of high-speed broadband;

     • Explore the economic development opportunities made possible by the wide

dissemination of high-speed broadband;

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

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

and

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

plans to enhance access to underserved communities throughout the state.

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

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

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

chairpersons of the commission.

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

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

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

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

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

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

suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

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

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

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

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

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

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