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2019 SESSION

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HB 2691 Electric utilities; provision of broadband services to unserved areas.

Introduced by: Israel D. O'Quinn | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

Electric utilities; provision of broadband services. Requires the State Corporation Commission to establish pilot programs under which Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power may submit a petition to provide or make available broadband capacity to nongovernmental Internet service providers in areas of the Commonwealth that are unserved by broadband. The costs of Dominion Power and Appalachian Power's proposals are each capped at $60 million annually. The provision of such broadband capacity is declared to be in the public interest. The measure authorizes the utilities to recover the net costs of the pilot program from customers through a rate adjustment clause. The measure authorizes such utility to own or lease broadband capacity equipment. The measure requires the Commission to conduct proceedings to determine whether an area is unserved by broadband.

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

Electric utilities; provision of broadband services. Requires the State Corporation Commission to establish pilot programs under which Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power may submit a petition to provide or make available broadband capacity to nongovernmental Internet service providers in areas of the Commonwealth that are unserved by broadband. The costs of Dominion Power's proposal are capped at $60 million annually. The provision of such broadband capacity is declared to be in the public interest. The measure authorizes the utilities to recover the net costs of the pilot program from customers through a rate adjustment clause. The measure authorizes such utility to own or lease broadband capacity equipment. The measure requires the Commission to conduct proceedings to determine whether an area is unserved by broadband.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Electric utilities; provision of broadband services. Requires the State Corporation Commission to establish pilot programs under which Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power are required to submit a proposal to provide or make available broadband services to unserved areas of the Commonwealth. The costs of Dominion Power's proposal are capped at $60 million annually. The provision of such broadband services is declared to be in the public interest. The measure authorizes the utilities to recover the net costs of the pilot program from customers through a rate adjustment clause. The measure authorizes such utility to become licensed to provide broadband services in an unserved area of the Commonwealth or lease telecommunications equipment to other providers of broadband services in an unserved area of the Commonwealth. The measure also gives any public service company providing broadband services in an unserved area of the Commonwealth discretion as to whether to permit any pole attachment in connection with the provision of broadband services.