SB 1074 - Under this act, no federal funds received by the state or a political subdivision shall be expended for the construction of broadband internet infrastructure unless the project to be constructed is located in an "unserved area" or "underserved area", and the project will provide broadband internet service to customers at certain speeds as stated in the act.

The Office of Broadband Infrastructure shall certify the project prior to a political subdivision receiving authorization. Prior to certifying a project, the Office of Broadband Infrastructure shall notify each internet service provider in the area of the project and such internet service provider may submit a challenge to the proposal as provided in the act.

A broadband internet service provider may submit a written challenge to the application within 45 days and the challenge shall contain information as stated in the act. The Department of Economic Development shall evaluate each challenge and if the challenge is determined to be valid, the project shall not be considered to be in an "unserved area" or "underserved area" and the expenditure by the political subdivision shall be prohibited.

This act is identical to HB 2695 (2022) and similar to a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 242 (2021).

JAMIE ANDREWS