An Act To Create Needed Broadband Infrastructure in Rural Maine through the Establishment of a Satellite-based Broadband Grant Program
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1107
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: STEWART, JACKSON, LUCHINI, MIRAMANT, CARLOW, WADSWORTH
Amends: 35-A MRSA §9219

Legislative Document
No. 1107
S.P. 368
In Senate, March 22, 2021
An Act To Create Needed Broadband Infrastructure in Rural 
Maine through the Establishment of a Satellite-based Broadband 
Grant Program
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on March 18, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on 
Energy, Utilities and Technology pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator STEWART of Aroostook.
Cosponsored by Senators: President JACKSON of Aroostook, LUCHINI of Hancock, 
MIRAMANT of Knox, Representatives: CARLOW of Buxton, WADSWORTH of Hiram.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  35-A MRSA §9219 is enacted to read:
§9219.  Satellite-based broadband grants
1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings.
A.  "Applicant" means an individual that applies for a grant under this section.
B.  "Fund" means the Satellite-based Broadband Grant Fund established in subsection 
2.
C.  "Satellite-based provider" means a broadband service provider that provides 
Internet access directly to consumers using satellite technology.
2.  Fund established.  The Satellite-based Broadband Grant Fund is established as a 
nonlapsing fund administered by the commission to provide grants to applicants in 
accordance with the purposes in subsection 3.  All money in the fund must be continuously 
applied by the commission to carry out this section.  The commission may receive and 
deposit in the fund funds from the following sources:
A.  Federal funds and awards that may be used for the purposes of this section; and
B.  Any other funds from public or private sources received in support of the purposes 
for which the fund is established.
3.  Purpose of fund.  The fund is established to address the need in the State for access 
to broadband services, particularly in the unserved or underserved areas of the State, by 
providing grants to eligible applicants for installation and other advance costs associated 
with the acquisition of broadband access from a satellite-based provider.  To the extent 
funds are available, the fund must be used to provide grants to applicants meeting the 
requirements of subsection 4 and in accordance with the award criteria in subsection 5.
4.  Grant requirements.  An applicant for a grant under this section must submit an 
application to the commission on a form prepared and made available by the commission.  
The commission shall establish application requirements for grants under this section, 
which must include, but are not limited to:
A.  A requirement that grants be awarded only to individuals applying on behalf of a 
residential household and that grants may not be awarded to business entities;
B.  A requirement that an applicant may not have previously received a grant under the 
program;
C.  A requirement that an applicant provide information regarding the satellite-based 
provider from which the applicant intends to acquire broadband access;
D.  A requirement that an applicant provide documentation of the installation and other 
advance costs required by the satellite-based provider for the applicant to initially 
acquire broadband access;
E.  A prohibition on the awarding of grants for broadband access costs not described 
in paragraph D, such as monthly service charges; and
F.  A prohibition on the awarding of grants for broadband access costs associated with 
broadband providers that are not satellite-based providers.
5.  Awarding of grants; additional criteria.  To the extent funds are available and in 
accordance with this subsection, the commission shall award grants to applicants that have 
provided the required information under subsection 4 and meet any other eligibility criteria 
established by the commission.  
A.  The maximum amount of a grant that may be awarded to an applicant is $500.
B.  The commission may not award more than one grant under this section to the same 
residential household.
C.  The commission shall prioritize the awarding of grants to applicants located in 
unserved or underserved areas of the State.
6.  Collaboration with ConnectMaine Authority; technical assistance.  At the 
request of the commission, the authority shall provide to the commission all information 
and assistance necessary for the administration of this section.  The commission may 
provide technical assistance to applicants who request assistance with the grant application 
process under this section.
7.  Rules; application procedure.  The commission may adopt rules to implement this 
section, including rules governing the application process for grants under this section.  
Rules adopted under this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 
375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 2.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
Satellite-based Broadband Grant Fund N354
Initiative: Provides a one-time appropriation to be used for grants for broadband access 
costs for satellite-based broadband services in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 35-A, section 9219.
GENERAL FUND
2021-22
2022-23
All Other
$0
$1,000,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$0
$1,000,000
SUMMARY
This bill establishes a satellite-based broadband grant program, to be developed and 
administered by the Public Utilities Commission, to provide grants of up to $500 to 
individuals for installation costs and other advance costs associated with the initial 
acquisition of broadband access from a satellite-based broadband provider.  Under the 
program, grant priority is to be given to applicants from unserved or underserved areas of 
the State.  This grant program is capitalized under the bill through a one-time General Fund 
appropriation of $1,000,000.