Sec. 44.33.910. Office of broadband; purpose, powers, and duties.

347 words·~2 min read·/ak/title-44/chapter-33/44-33-910

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(a)The office of broadband is established in the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development.

(b)The purpose of the office of broadband is to

(1)expand broadband access and digital equity in the state through federal, tribal, and local partnerships;

(2)focus on broadband infrastructure projects that meet certain speed, latency, reliability, and scalability requirements, while maintaining technological neutrality within those requirements;

(3)identify scalable and sustainable technologies that meet the needs of state residents into the future; and

(4)support broadband equity and affordability for all state residents.

(c)The office of broadband shall

(1)prioritize broadband service expansion in the following order of priority:

(A)unserved areas;

(B)underserved areas; and

(C)anchor institutions;

(2)make grants to eligible grantees and prioritize grants to grantees with in-state experience, qualifications, and expertise needed to deploy, operate, repair, and maintain broadband infrastructure;

(3)develop a procedure for issuance of grants;

(4)develop a procedure for adoption of broadband service maps that

(A)incorporates the Federal Communications Commission maps developed in accordance with P.L. 116-130 (Broadband DATA Act) to define unserved and underserved areas;

(B)allows for broadband parity adjustments; and

(C)provides for a process to challenge adoption of broadband service maps, including a public notice and comment period;

(5)administer and set criteria for the broadband parity adjustment program under AS 44.33.915 ;

(6)streamline permitting to support broadband deployment;

(7)encourage local workforce development with in-state partners through the University of Alaska, technical, vocational, or trade schools, and apprenticeship programs; and

(8)review and consider the recommendations of the Statewide Broadband Advisory Board established under AS 44.33.920 .

(d)The office of broadband shall adopt regulations under AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act) to carry out its duties.

(e)In this section, “anchor institution” means a school, library, health care facility, health care provider, public safety entity, institution of higher education, public housing organization, community support organization, or other entity that facilitates greater use of broadband service by low-income individuals, unemployed individuals, or elderly individuals.