Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman LISA SWAIN
District 38 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes NJ Affordable Connectivity Program to provide discounted broadband services to certain households; appropriates $10 million.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing a program to provide discounted broadband services and supplementing Title 44 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):
"Broadband telecommunications infrastructure" means information equipment and facilities, information systems, and information technology used for the purpose of providing broadband telecommunications service.
"Broadband telecommunications service" means any telecommunications service using broadband telecommunications infrastructure for the purpose of offering high speed, switched, broadband wireline or wireless telecommunications capability that enables users to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, graphics, or video telecommunications through the Internet and using any technology.
"Broadband telecommunications service provider" means any person who provides broadband telecommunications services in this State.
"Department" means the Department of Human Services.
"Eligible household" means a household that meets the requirements under subsection c. of section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
"Low-income household" means a household with a total current annual household income equal to 50 percent or less of the area median income for a household of the same size and composition.
"Person" means an individual or an entity.
"Very low-income household" means a household with a total current annual household income less than or equal to 30 percent of the area median income for a household of the same size and composition.
2. a. There is established the New Jersey Affordable Connectivity Program in the Department of Human Services. The purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance to increase low-income household and very low-income household access to broadband telecommunications service.
b. The department shall enter into an agreement with broadband telecommunications service providers, which shall include, at a minimum:
(1) discounted rate options deducting up to $30 from each bill;
(2) which broadband telecommunications services the discounted rates apply to; and
(3) any other requirements determined by the department.
c. To apply for the program, a household shall submit an application to the department, in a form and manner determined by the department, that demonstrates the household:
(1) is located in this State;
(2) is either a low-income household or a very low-income household; and
(3) is eligible based on any other criteria established by the department.
d. (1) The department shall approve applications for the program on a rolling basis, subject to the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to section 5 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
(2) The department shall determine the amount, up to $30, each eligible household receives as a discount on the household's monthly bill with deference to larger sums for very low-income households.
e. (1) Upon approval by the department, an eligible household shall receive a discounted rate on the household's monthly bill from a broadband telecommunications service provider that has entered into an agreement with the department pursuant to subsection b. of this section.
(2) The eligible household shall reapply each year.
3. A broadband telecommunications service provider that has entered into an agreement with the department pursuant to subsection b. of section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), shall receive a subsidy for the provision of broadband telecommunications service, in the amount of up to $30 per bill for each eligible household, in accordance with any regulations adopted by the department pursuant to section 5 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
4. a. There is appropriated the sum of $10,000,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services for the purpose of funding the New Jersey Affordable Connectivity Program, established pursuant to section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
b. In addition to the amounts appropriated pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the Legislature may appropriate such additional funds as may be necessary for the implementation of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). The department may also utilize other such funds as are available for implementation of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
5. The Department of Human Services shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
6. This act shall take effect six months after the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes the New Jersey Affordable Connectivity Program (program) in the Department of Human Services (department), which program provides discounts for broadband telecommunications service to low-income households and very low-income households.
The department is required to enter into an agreement with broadband telecommunications service providers to offer discounted rate options of up to $30 off each broadband telecommunications bill for an eligible household. To qualify for the program, a household is required to submit an application to the department, in a form and manner determined by the department, that demonstrates the household is located in this State; is either a low-income household or a very low-income household; and is eligible based on any other criteria established by the department.
The department is to approve applications for the program on a rolling basis and determine the amount, up to $30, each eligible household receives as a discount on the household's monthly bill. Upon approval by the department, an eligible household is to receive a discounted rate on the household's monthly bill from the partnered broadband telecommunications service provider. The eligible household is required to reapply each year.
A broadband telecommunications service provider that has entered into an agreement with the department is to receive a subsidy for the provision of broadband telecommunications service, in the amount of up to $30 for each bill for each eligible household.
Additionally, this bill makes an appropriation in the sum of $10 million from the General Fund to the department for the purpose of funding the program.