484.3254 Awarding of grants for unserved areas; certain conditions prohibited; limitations.

218 words·~1 min read·/mi/chapter-484/484-3254

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Sec. 4.

(1)The department shall only use money from the grant program to award grants to applicants for projects that exclusively extend broadband service into unserved areas in this state and for the department's costs to administer the program.

(2)The department shall not, directly or indirectly, award grant money to a governmental entity or educational institution or an affiliate, to own, purchase, construct, operate, or maintain a communications network, or to provide service to any residential or commercial premises.

(3)The department shall not, as a condition of an award of grant money, impose an open network architecture requirement, rate regulation, or other term or condition of service that differs from the applicant's terms or conditions of service in its other service areas.

(4)An applicant shall not receive a grant for the same project or geographic area for which the applicant has obtained federal, state, or local government funding awarded specifically to support the expansion of broadband networks. The department shall not award more than $5,000,000.00 to any 1 project or to any 1 applicant. The department shall award initial grant money within 270 days after the money is made available under this program.

History: 2020, Act 224 , Imd. Eff. Oct. 16, 2020