Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 101: ConnectME Authority, a Major Substantive Rule of the ConnectME Authority
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1798
Committee Amendment CA_A_H633 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. j,, to H.P. 1243, L.D. 1798, "Resolve, Regarding 
Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 101: ConnectME Authority, a Major 
Substantive Rule of the ConnectME Authority" 
Amend the resolve by striking out all of section 1 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Adoption. Resolved: That final adoption of portions of Chapter 101: 
ConnectME Authority, a provisionally adopted major substantive rule of the ConnectME 
Authority that has been submitted to the Legislature for review pursuant to the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A, is authorized only if the following 
changes are made: 
1. The rule must be amended in section 2, subsection A in the definition of" advanced 
communications technology infrastructure" to clarify that an infrastructure improvement 
project is a project that expands the deployment or improves the quality of either 
broadband service or wireless service, or both; 
2. The rule must be amended in section 2, subsection D in the definition of 
"broadband service provider" to mean a facilities-based provider of broadband 
connections to end users that is required to file FCC Form 477 with the Federal 
Communications Commission; 
3. The rule must be amended in section 3, subsection A to change "communications 
service providers" to "broadband service providers"; 
4. The rule must be amended in section 3, subsection C to provide that the 
ConnectME Authority may request and communications service providers may 
voluntarily provide additional information to determine availability of broadband service 
in specific geographic locations to assist in evaluating or developing infrastructure grant 
proposals and that any information collected may be designated as confidential by the 
authority in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 9207 and 
Chapter 101 and may be used for only the purposes for which it is collected; 
5. The rule must be amended in section 4, subsection C, paragraph 4 to add a 
provision to clarify that no release of records may take place before 7 days following 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
.\! 
('v 
s 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. ff. to H.P. 1243, L.D. 1798 
issuance of a denial of stay request either by the ConnectME Authority or by a court of 
competent jurisdiction, whichever is later; and 
6. The rule must be amended in section 6, subsection D, paragraph S, subparagraph 
(a), divisions (i) and (ii) and paragraph 6 to specify that the completion of a project and 
submission of a report demonstrating project completion must occur within one year of 
receiving funding or within 180 days of receiving all necessary permits, licenses or 
government approvals, whichever is later. 
The ConnectME Authority is not required to hold hearings or undertake further 
proceedings prior to final adoption of the rule in accordance with this section.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment allows for the final adoption of portions of Chapter 101: 
ConnectME Authority, a major substantive rule of the ConnectME Authority, as long as 
the ConnectME Authority makes several changes, including the correction of a drafting 
error in the definitions section in order to provide a more comprehensive definition of 
"broadband service provider". The amendment also provides clarification regarding the 
release of records of the issuance of a denial for a protective order, clarification of 
language regarding the gathering of additional information and clarification of the 
timeframe for project completion and report submissions. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/05/18 feac. 
LD 1798 
LR2861(02) 
Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 101: ConnectME Authority, a Major 
Substantive Rule of the ConnectME Authority 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment/-}.i(/f ·tJs) 
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Any additional costs to the ConnectME Authority as a result of final adoption of provisionally adopted rules 
regarding how the authority operates are anticipated to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted 
resources. 
LR2861 (02) - Fi,:r.al Note - Pf!P-e 1 of 1