An Act To Ensure Local Broadband Coverage
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0850
Committee Amendment CA_A_H64 (House)
Amends: 35-A MRSA §9204

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 585, L.D. 850, Bill, "An Act To 
Ensure Local Broadband Coverage" 
Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the 
following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, by April 30, 2009, the ConnectME Authority will initiate the 3rd round of 
its grant program to expand access to broadband service in the State and, particularly, to 
expand access in areas where there is presently no broadband or high-speed Internet 
service available; and 
Whereas, more than $750,000 is expected to be available for the 3rd round of 
grants; and 
Whereas, access to broadband service is a necessity for residents and businesses in 
the State; and 
Whereas, certain changes in law must be put into effect as soon as possible in order 
to affect the ConnectME Authority's implementation of the 3rd round of the grant 
program; and 
. 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §9204, sub-§l, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 665, §3, is 
amended to read: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~. ·~. 
1 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .~~ " to H.P. 585. L.D. 850 
1. Establish criteria defining unserved and underserved areas. The authority, by 
rule adopted pursuant to section 9205, subsection 3, shall establish criteria to define 
unserved and underserved areas. The authority shall establish criteria that ensure that an 
area is not determined to be an unserved or underserved area if the effect of that 
determination would inhibit or impede private investment in any area or diminish the 
value of prior investment in advanced communications technology infrastructure within 
any area. Criteria established by the authority must include but are not limited to whether 
investment is planned in an area within a reasonable time. Criteria established by the 
authority to define unserved and underserved areas with respect to broadband service 
must include the percentage of households with access to broadband service within a 
municipality or other appropriate geographic area. 
Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §9204, sub-§2, ~C, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 665, §3, is 
amended to read: 
C. Expand the availability of broadband service to residential and small business 
customers in unserved or underserved areas. In awarding grants, the authority shall 
give priority to those proposals that, relative to other proposals, extend access to 
broadband service to a higher percentage of an unserved area within a municipality or 
other appropriate geographic area; 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. The amendment requires the ConnectME Authority 
to give priority to grant proposals that, relative to other proposals, extend access to 
broadband service to a higher percentage of an unserved area. The amendment also 
requires the ConnectME Authority to consider the percentage of households with access 
to broadband service when establishing criteria to define unserved and underserved areas. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
. \ 
;. 
) 
I 
) 
/~ 
( 
/ 
.<'"(, 
Approved: 04/06/09 frac:.. 
LD850 
LR 1281(02) 
An Act To Ensure Local Broadband Coverage 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "(\,, 
Committee: Utilities and Energy 
f1 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to ConnectME to define and modify criteria related to the grants awarded under the program and 
provide other administrative duties can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1281(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1