2020 -- S 2776 | |
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LC004932 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020 | |
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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N | |
RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO DESIGNATE A STATE-WIDE | |
BROADBAND COORDINATOR AND ESTABLISH A RHODE ISLAND BROADBAND | |
ADVISORY COUNCIL | |
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Introduced By: Senators Euer, DiPalma, Murray, McCaffrey, and Conley | |
Date Introduced: March 12, 2020 | |
Referred To: Senate Commerce | |
1 | WHEREAS, Rhode Island successfully utilized federal BTOP (Broadband Technologies |
2 | Opportunities Program) funding in 2010 so OSHEAN (Ocean State Higher Education Economic |
3 | Development and Administrative Network), a nonprofit that serves nonprofits, schools, and |
4 | government could develop, build, and operate a fiber-optic "Middle Mile"; and |
5 | WHEREAS, The fiber covering the State is known as the "Middle Mile" and was built in |
6 | 2010 using 21.7 million of federal dollars and 10 million of state dollars. At that time, OSHEAN |
7 | was viewed as a valuable partner with the State and not just a vendor; and |
8 | WHEREAS, Federal dollars were used by OSHEAN to deliver the network, and the |
9 | federal government insists on a non-discrimination and interconnection obligation. One of the |
10 | fundamental principles of BTOP funding is open access; and |
11 | WHEREAS, Federal and State funding was used to build the "Middle Mile" yet it is still |
12 | inaccessible to residents, businesses, and some local municipalities; and |
13 | WHEREAS, High-speed internet known as "broadband" has become an essential tool in |
14 | the 21st century impacting every business and every Rhode Island resident; and |
15 | WHEREAS, High-speed internet is crucial to economic development as companies need |
16 | fast, reliable service; broadband access is crucial to education, community development, |
17 | healthcare, public safety, and local government; and |
18 | WHEREAS, Because of the size of Rhode Island, the State has more fiber per square |
19 | mile than any other state in the country; and |
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1 | WHEREAS, When federal funding ended in 2014, Rhode Island disbanded Broadband |
2 | Rhode Island, a project of the RI Department of Administration in partnership with the Rhode |
3 | Island Commerce Corporation; and |
4 | WHEREAS, Rhode Island is one of only two states that do not have a broadband entity |
5 | or coordinator overseeing broadband initiatives, leveraging economic development opportunities, |
6 | accessing federal dollars, addressing issues of high-speed access, technology trends, closing the |
7 | digital divide, improving and making more affordable connectivity for Rhode Island residents and |
8 | businesses; and |
9 | WHEREAS, OSHEAN has 48 strands of fiber optic in cable and on telephone poles |
10 | throughout the State, known as the "Middle Mile"; however, it is still completely underutilized |
11 | with less than ten strands of fiber optic being used; now, therefore be it |
12 | RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations |
13 | hereby respectfully requests the Governor to designate a state-wide Broadband coordinator |
14 | dedicated to the oversight of Broadband Accessibility and Internet Connectivity for the 21st |
15 | Century and who would be responsible for accessing federal dollars for economic development, |
16 | broadband policy, and coordinating any future funding efforts; and be it further |
17 | RESOLVED, That this Senate requests the RI Department of Administration in |
18 | partnership with the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation to establish a ten member Council, to |
19 | be known as the Rhode Island Broadband Advisory Council, consisting of volunteer stakeholders |
20 | from the community to be convened in order to assist the Rhode Island Broadband coordinator. |
21 | The composition of said Council should consist of: |
22 | 1. The Secretary of the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, or designee, to serve as |
23 | Chair; |
24 | 2. The Director of Emergency Management, or designee; |
25 | 3. The Administrator of the Department of Public Utilities Commission, or designee; |
26 | 4. A member from Connect Greater Newport; |
27 | 5. The Executive Director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, or designee; |
28 | 6. A representative from OSHEAN; |
29 | 7. Two private sector providers of broadband services; |
30 | 8. The Commissioner of Rhode Island Education, or designee; and |
31 | 9. A member of the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank; and be it further |
32 | RESOLVED, That this Senate requests that the Council shall meet at least quarterly and |
33 | report to the Governor and the General Assembly its findings and recommendations for |
34 | enhancing broadband access in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further |
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1 | RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
2 | transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Gina Raimondo, Governor of the |
3 | State of Rhode Island, Brett Smiley, Director of the RI Department of Administration, and Stefan |
4 | Pryor, Secretary of Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. |
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LC004932 | |
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