2015 -- S 1017

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LC002951

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THAT THE GOVERNOR INITIATE A COMPREHENSIVE

BROADBAND POLICY FOR THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Senators Pichardo, DiPalma, and Coyne

     Date Introduced: June 24, 2015

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     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 health care and educational opportunities, and providing a

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

     WHEREAS, The Special Legislative Commission to Study Broadband Service and

Accessibility ("the Commission") has finished meeting and issued its final report based upon over

15 hours of testimony from 19 individuals representing government, nonprofits, and the private

sector; and

     WHEREAS, The Commission examined:

     ( The current level of broadband service state-wide;

     ( 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;

     ( The digital gap in both the minority and rural communities;

     ( Opportunities for potential public/private sector partnerships;

     ( Various strategies, financing methods, and financial incentives used in other states

     and countries to support deployment of high-speed broadband;

     ( The security, vulnerability, and redundancy actions necessary to ensure the reliability

     of high-speed broadband;

     ( Economic development opportunities made possible by the wide dissemination of

     high-speed broadband;

     ( High-speed broadband's benefit to educational institutions, community based

     organizations, and government institutions; and

     ( The current public centers for broadband access as well as potential future plans to

     enhance access to underserved communities throughout the state; and

     WHEREAS, The Commission deems broadband to be the 21st century highway for our

information economy, almost as much a life necessity as water and electricity, and universally

required to effectively operate and compete in the 21st century; and

     WHEREAS, The Commission concluded that Rhode Island's broadband infrastructure is

extremely good, ranking near the top of every poll with regards to the speeds and quality of our

Internet infrastructure; and

     WHEREAS, Analysis also revealed that there are certain areas that require improvement,

wherein, almost one third of Rhode Island households, require broadband adoption as they still do

not utilize the Internet; and

     WHEREAS, Many of these households lack the digital literacy skills essential to

performing the most fundamental online functions such as e-mailing, posting resumes, searching

for jobs or the basics of using a computer; and

     WHEREAS, This "Digital Divide" negatively impacts many of our most vulnerable

citizens especially minority and low-income households; and

     WHEREAS, Federal programs have provided $21 million to build broadband

infrastructure in places where it doesn't already exist, such as providing better Internet to our

community anchor institutions, and promoting Internet use, literacy and adoption for our citizens;

now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly, in order to overcome this challenge as well as

propel Rhode Island's economic development efforts forward, hereby respectfully requests the

Governor to establish a task force that not only produces a Broadband Strategic Plan but also

reviews the Broadband Commission's recommendations in light of the broader implementation of

a comprehensive broadband policy for Rhode Island; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly hereby further requests that establishment of a

comprehensive broadband strategy for Rhode Island will not only maintain the state's broadband

competitive advantage, but will also increase its adoption and utilization by all citizens, thus

increasing economic development opportunities while eliminating certain barriers to success for

the benefit of all of the state's residents and businesses; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Gina Raimondo, Governor of the

State of Rhode Island, and to the Co-Chairpersons of the Special Legislative Commission to

Study Broadband Service and Accessibility.

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LC002951

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