An Act To Encourage Community Network Development
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1767
Committee: Utilities and Energy
Sponsors: PERRY, RICHARDSON, BROMLEY, MARTIN, MILLS, MITCHELL, RA YE, FISCHER, PINGREE, TARDY
Amends: 35-A MRSA §9152

Legislative Document 
No. 1767 
S.P.626 
March 28, 2007 
An Act To Encourage Community Network Development 
Reference to the Committee on Utilities and Energy suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator PERRY of Penobscot. 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Cosponsored by Representative RICHARDSON of Cannel and Senators: BROMLEY of 
Cumberland, MARTIN of Aroostook, MILLS of Somerset, MITCHELL of Kennebec, RA YE 
of Washington, Representatives: FISCHER of Presque Isle, PINGREE of North Haven, 
TARDY of Newport. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 5 MRS A §12004-G, sub-§33-G is enacted to read: 
33-G. 
Technology 
Education and 
Municipal 
Technology 
Advisory 
Committee 
Expenses Only 
Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA c. 92 is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 92 
TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIPS 
§9151. Definitions 
35-A MRSA 
§9152 
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms 
have the following meanings. 
1. Advisory committee. "Advisory committee" means the Education and Municipal 
Technology Advisory Committee established in Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 
33-G. 
2. Community network. "Community network" means a computer system within a 
municipality that provides free or low-cost access to information and services through a 
centrally managed network or intranet or Internet connection or any combination of 
I 
network and connections. 
3. Fund. "Fund" means the Education and Municipal Technology Partnership Fund 
established in section 9153, subsection 3. 
§9152. Advisory committee established 
1. Members. The advisory committee consists of the following 1 I members: 
A. The chair of the ConnectME Authority, as established in section 9203, or the 
chair's designee; 
B. 
Three members representing postsecondary education, appointed by the 
Governor; 
C. One member of a statewide association of municipal governments, appointed by 
the Governor; 
D. Three members of the public, appointed by the Governor; 
E. 
Two members representing a community that has an operational community 
network, appointed by the Governor; and 
F. One member representing a provider of Internet service serving a rural area of the 
State, appointed by the Governor. 
2. 
Terms: vacancies. 
Members of the advisory committee appointed by the 
Governor serve 3-year terms or until their successors are appointed. A vacancy is filled 
for the remainder of the term that is vacated. 
3. Chair: clerk. The advisory committee shall annually elect a chair and a clerk 
from among its members at its first meeting of the calendar year. 
§9153. Community network development 
1. Technology partnerships. The advisory committee shall provide oversight and 
advice to existing community networks and shall encourage and aid in the development 
of community networks by municipalities in partnerships with local schools in the 
municipalities. In performing these duties the advisory committee shall: 
A. Coordinate with the University of Maine System and act as a liaison between the 
system and local community network partners to ensure that appropriate information 
technology training programs and courses are available to teachers from kindergarten 
to grade 12; 
B. 
Provide ongoing expert advice and guidance for developing and established 
community networks; and 
C. Administer a grant program pursuant to subsection 2. 
2. Grant pro~ram. The advisory committee shall administer a grant program from 
the fund to provide grants to communities and schools partnering to develop community 
networks. The advisory committee shall by routine technical rule adopted pursuant to 
Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A establish the process and criteria for grant 
application and distribution. 
3. Fund established. The Education and Municipal Technology Partnership Fund is 
established as a non lapsing fund administered by the advisory committee. The fund 
consists of money appropriated or allocated to it and may receive money from any 
source, including grants, gifts, bequests and donations. 
4. Annual report. The advisory committee shall submit an annual report by January 
st to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities. 
The report must: 
A. Identify community networks in the State with which the advisory committee has 
been involved and the status of their development; 
B. Provide an accounting of the grant program administered pursuant to subsection 
b 
c. 
Summarize the progress made over the past year in developing new community 
networks; 
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D. Summarize the support provided to already existing community networks over the 
past year; and 
E. Outline proposals and plans for additional community networks. 
Sec. 3. 
Education and Municipal Technology Advisory Committee; 
staggered terms. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 
9152, subsection 2, of the 10 initial members appointed by the Governor to the Education 
and Municipal Technology Advisory Committee, the Governor shall appoint 3 for 3-year 
terms, 4 for 2-year terms and 4 for I-year terms. 
Sec. 4. Appropriations and allocations. 
The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION 
Public Utilities - Administrative Division 0184 
Initiative: Provides one-time funds for initial funding of the Education and Municipal 
Technology Partnership Fund for the community networks grant program administered 
by the Education and Municipal Technology Advisory Committee pursuant to the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 9153 and ongoing funds to pay expenses incurred by 
advisory committee members. Funds appropriated in this section do not lapse, but must 
be carried forward for the same purposes. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
2007-08 
$90,000 
$90,000 
2008-09 
$10,000 
$10,000 
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes the Education and Municipal Technology Advisory Committee 
to aid in the development and maintenance of community networks by municipalities and 
schools within those municipalities working in partnership. Under the bill, a community 
network is a computer system within a municipality that provides free or low-cost access 
to information and services through a centrally managed network or intranet or Internet 
connection or any combination of network and connections. The bill makes a one-time 
appropriation for the purpose of establishing a grant program from a fund to be 
administered by the advisory committee to aid in the development of community 
networks and an ongoing appropriation for expenses of the advisory committee members.