House committee advances substitute for HB305 to expand broadband office authority and funding rules

The House Committee on Commerce on May 13 reported a substitute for House Bill 305 that would give the Louisiana State Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity broader authority to oversee certain broadband programs, raise the administration cap for existing funds and change payment and compliance rules.

The substitute bill, offered as amendment set 2596, would raise the cap on administration fees for the Gumbo 1 funds from 1% to 2.5%, add provisions for reimbursements and grants, and expand the office’s authority to enforce compliance by providers and to adopt implementing rules. The chair moved to reconsider and then withdraw amendment set 2163 before a substitute was introduced and adopted for consideration.

Vineeth Iyengar, executive director of the Louisiana…