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Chairman to refile broadband bill that shifts compliance to Office of Broadband; committee defers
Summary
Chairman Desitel said he will file a substitute to House Bill 305 to make the Office of Broadband the compliance arm for broadband grant programs rather than the Public Service Commission; members raised staffing and duplication concerns and the committee voluntarily deferred the bill.
Chairman Desitel told the House Commerce Committee he will file a substitute for House Bill 305, a proposal to regulate certain broadband services, that would shift compliance oversight from the Public Service Commission to the Office of Broadband and give the office rulemaking authority to enforce grant commitments.
Ms. Vyegras read the bill summary: the bill concerns "the regulation of certain broadband services ... to provide for oversight from the public service commission, to provide for rule making authority, and to provide for related matters." The chairman said an amendment (set 2,163) had been adopted previously and that after conversations with stakeholders he decided to pivot and make the Office of Broadband the compliance arm for grants the office administers.
"All it does is say that the Office of Broadband is now able to, to make sure that these providers are compliant with the grant program and what they've, signed up to do," Desitel said. He said the substitute will rely on rulemaking rather than spelling every enforcement detail into statute.
Committee members asked questions about current authority and fiscal implications. Representative Knox asked whether new legislation is required to give the Office of Broadband this regulatory authority; Desitel responded that the substitute would provide the rulemaking authority and that some grant instruments already give the office certain enforcement tools but that the substitute would clarify and expand rulemaking powers. Representative Jordan and others voiced concern about duplicating the Public Service Commission's work and about staffing: "Office of Broadband has, what, 3 employees?" Jordan asked, and Desitel acknowledged staff and fiscal questions, saying the substitute would propose using a larger portion of federal grant administrative funds (moving toward 5%) and rely on contractors while the grants remain available.
After discussion, Desitel moved to voluntarily defer HB 305; members raised no objections and the motion carried. He said he will circulate the substitute when it is available and invited members to provide feedback.
