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2017 SESSION

17102688D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 700
Offered January 11, 2017
Prefiled January 11, 2017
Requesting the Broadband Advisory Council to study broadband availability and the most cost-effective means to provide broadband coverage to the greatest number of people. Report.
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Patrons-- Levine, Tyler, Aird and Rasoul
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the Broadband Advisory Council (the Council) is established as an advisory council in the executive branch of state government for the purpose of advising the Governor on policy and funding priorities to expedite deployment and reduce the cost of broadband access in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the Council consists of both legislative and nonlegislative members with subject matter expertise; and

WHEREAS, a lack of broadband coverage continues to be a problem in many areas of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, a study that results in a rating of communities where the most people can be served by increased broadband coverage for the least cost would be a valuable resource for determining future broadband expansion; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Broadband Advisory Council be requested to study broadband availability and the most cost-effective means to provide broadband coverage to the greatest number of people.

In conducting its study, the Council shall study current broadband availability and develop a system for rating communities where the most people can be served by increased broadband coverage for the least cost.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Council for this study, upon request.

The Council shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2017, and shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports no later than the first day of the 2018 Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.