03/04/09 0426s

06May2009… 1370h

05/27/09 1804eba

2009 SESSION

09-0280

05/10

SENATE BILL 159-FN

COMMITTEE: Energy, Environment and Economic Development

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill establishes the position of director of broadband technology planning and development in the department of resources and economic development. The director’s duties include the development of a comprehensive broadband plan for the state of New Hampshire. Funding for the position is contingent on receipt of grants or federal funds for this purpose.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03/04/09 0426s

06May2009… 1370h

05/27/09 1804eba

09-0280

05/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nine

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

197:1 Telecommunications Planning and Development Advisory Committee; Member Added. Amend RSA 12-A:46, II by inserting after subparagraph (h) the following new subparagraph:

(g) The chief information officer, or designee; [and]

(h) The following persons nominated by the commissioner of resources and economic development and appointed by the governor and council:

(1) Two members representing residential telecommunications customers;

(2) One member representing large business telecommunications customers;

(3) One member representing small business telecommunications customers;

(4) One member representing educators providing distance learning;

(5) One member representing municipal government;

(6) One member representing county government;

(7) One member representing a regional economic development organization or a regional planning commission; and

(8) Up to 7 members representing several of the following sectors of the telecommunications industry: wireless, paging, incumbent local exchange carriers, competitive local exchange carriers, Internet service providers, cable, long distance providers, and broadcast television. A member representing one sector may also represent one or more other sectors, as deemed appropriate by the commissioner[.]; and

(i) The director of broadband technology planning and development in the division of economic development.

197:2 New Subdivision; Division of Economic Development; Broadband Technology Planning and Development. Amend RSA 12-A by inserting after section 59 the following new subdivision:

Broadband Technology Planning and Development

12-A:60 Director of Broadband Technology Planning and Development. There is established within the division of economic development the position of director of broadband technology planning and development, which shall be an administrator II position, classified at labor grade 29. The director shall:

I. Coordinate state telecommunications policy planning initiatives by serving as a member of the telecommunications planning and development advisory committee established in RSA 12-A:46, maintaining a state telecommunications resource website, and working with regional partners from the private and public sector to coordinate efforts to provide increased interoperable advanced telecommunications systems throughout the state with the goal of providing affordable and accessible broadband to residents of this state.

II. Encourage and facilitate collaboration between public and private research and development efforts in New Hampshire relative to broadband technology planning and development.

III. Develop a comprehensive broadband plan for the state and coordinate with partners throughout the state to implement and regularly update the plan.

IV. Act as an agent in recruiting and retaining high technology companies in New Hampshire.

V. Serve as a resource for state policy makers to develop policies geared towards increasing and expanding high technology jobs and promoting development of a high technology workforce.

VI. Seek resources such as grants from government and nonprofit entities to promote the state’s broadband technology planning and development initiatives.

197:3 Director of Broadband Technology Planning and Development; Funding for Position. Funding for the position of director of broadband technology planning and development established in section 2 of this act shall be contingent upon the receipt of grants or federal funds for such purpose, including but not limited to funds received pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, H.R. 1, 111^th Cong. (2009).

197:4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

Approved: July 13, 2009

Effective Date: July 13, 2009