HF 2324 (LSB 5302YH (8) 89)

HOUSE FILE 2324

BY  SORENSEN

A BILL FOR

An Act establishing a satellite internet grant program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 8B.4, Code 2022, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  20.  Administer the satellite internet grant program pursuant to section 8B.11A.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  8B.11A  Satellite internet grant program —— fund.
   1.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
   a.  “Initial hardware costs” means manufacturing and equipment expenses generated from accessing a satellite.
   b.  “Person” means the same as defined in section 4.1.
   c.  “Satellite” means electronic infrastructure equipment that facilitates broadband service that revolves around the earth at atmospheric altitudes between two hundred kilometers and two thousand kilometers.
   2.  The office shall establish and administer a satellite internet grant program. The purpose of the program is to facilitate broadband service to residents of the state through a satellite connection.
   3.  A person may apply to the office for a grant to cover up to the initial hardware costs under this section by filing a completed application. The office shall develop a grant application form and establish criteria for the awarding of grants, which shall include the following:
   a.  Broadband services shall be facilitated where there is no broadband currently available. The applicant must submit satisfactory proof of the lack of service.
   b.  A statement of initial hardware costs for the satellite project.
   c.  The satellite connection shall facilitate internet service that provides a minimum download speed of one hundred megabits per second and a minimum upload speed of twenty megabits per second.
   d.  Other performance-based standards and criteria deemed appropriate by the office.
   4.  A satellite internet grant fund is established in the state treasury under the authority of the office. The fund shall consist of moneys appropriated to and obtained or accepted by the office. Moneys in the fund are appropriated to the office to be used to provide grants to communications service providers pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys in the fund that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for the purposes designated in the following fiscal year.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill creates a satellite internet grant program under the office of the chief information officer to provide broadband connection to Iowans with limited or nonexistent internet connectivity.
   The bill defines “initial hardware costs” to mean manufacturing and equipment costs generated from accessing a satellite. The bill defines “satellite” to mean an electronic infrastructure orbiting the earth at atmospheric altitudes between 200 kilometers and 2,000 kilometers that facilitates broadband service. 
   The bill provides that a person may apply for grants administered by the office to cover up to the initial hardware costs for satellite interconnection if certain criteria are satisfied. Criteria for awarding a grant include providing broadband service to areas with no broadband, a statement of the initial hardware costs for the satellite project, interconnection facilitating internet service that provides certain minimum download and upload speeds, and other standards and criteria as determined by the office.