An Act To Ensure Continued Availability of High-speed Broadband Internet at Maine's Schools and Libraries
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0256
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: GROHMAN, MAKER, BERRY, FECTEAU, SHERMAN, SKOLFIELD, CARPENTER
Amends: 35-A MRSA §7104-B

Legislative Document
No. 256
H.P. 189
House of Representatives, January 31, 2017
An Act To Ensure Continued Availability of High-speed Broadband 
Internet at Maine's Schools and Libraries
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative GROHMAN of Biddeford.
Cosponsored by Senator MAKER of Washington and
Representatives: BERRY of Bowdoinham, FECTEAU of Biddeford, SHERMAN of Hodgdon, 
SKOLFIELD of Weld, Senator: CARPENTER of Aroostook.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  35-A MRSA §7104-B, sub-§3, ¶A, as amended by PL 2011, c. 623, Pt. 
B, §21, is further amended to read: 
A.  Limit the amount collected to no more than 0.7% $4,200,000 annually, assessed 
as a percentage of retail charges for 2-way voice communications services as 
determined by the commission, excluding interstate tolls or interstate private line 
services; 
Sec. 2.  35-A MRSA §7104-B, sub-§3, ¶B, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 409, §2, is 
amended to read: 
B.  Ensure that the funds are collected in a competitively neutral and equitable 
manner; 
Sec. 3.  Stakeholder group to evaluate method of collection of funds.  The 
Public Utilities Commission, using existing resources, shall convene a stakeholder group 
to evaluate whether the current method of collection of funds to support the 
telecommunications education access fund, established pursuant to the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 35-A, section 7104-B, subsection 2, is competitively neutral, equitable and 
sustainable.  To the maximum extent possible, the recommendations from this group must 
reflect consensus among the stakeholders.  The Public Utilities Commission shall submit 
a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology by January 
30, 2018 that includes: 
1.  An overview of the stakeholder group's discussions; 
2.  The conclusions of the stakeholder group, including any recommended changes to 
the method of assessment; 
3.  Any areas in which stakeholders were unable to reach consensus; 
4.  Changes to law, rule or policies needed to carry out an alternative to the current 
method of collection of funds; 
5.  A proposed timeline for implementation of an alternative to the current method of 
collection of funds; 
6.  A description of legal barriers to implementation of the stakeholder group's 
recommendations; and 
7.  Any other recommendations of the stakeholder group. 
The joint standing committee may report out a bill to the Second Regular Session of 
the 128th Legislature related to the report. 
SUMMARY 
This bill changes the limit on the amount collected on prepaid wireless 
telecommunications service from a percentage to a flat amount.  This bill also requires 
the Public Utilities Commission to convene a stakeholder group to evaluate and provide 
recommendations regarding the method of collection of funds to support 
telecommunications access at libraries and public schools.  The commission is required to 
report to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology by January 
30, 2018, and the committee is authorized to submit a bill based on the report.