HB 947 – The G.R.E.A.T. Broadband Expansion Act

Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Dean Arp (R-Union); Rep. Donny Lambeth (R-Forsyth); Rep. Jason Saine (R-Lincoln); Rep. Jake Johnson (R-Henderson, Polk, Transylvania)

 

 

 

Summary

This bill:

  • Establishes the Completing Access to Broadband Fund and permits the Secretary of the Department of Information Technology to award grants from the Fund to projects meeting certain specified criteria.
  • Requires the Broadband Infrastructure Office in the Department of Technology to award fixed wireless and satellite broadband grants to eligible broadband service providers for subscriptions to unserved households as follows: (1) up to $1,100 for each satellite broadband subscription, or up to $700 for each fixed wireless subscription, providing broadband speeds of 50 megabits per second download and 3 megabits per second upload, or greater and (2) up to $700 for each satellite broadband subscription, or up to $500 for each wireless subscription, providing less than 50 megabits per second download and 3 megabits per second upload.
  • Makes various changes to the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) program.
  • Appropriates $400M for the 2021-2022 fiscal year from the funds received by the State pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to the Completing Access to Broadband Fund in the Department of Technology.
  • Appropriates $12M for the 2021-2022 fiscal year from the funds received by the State pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology Fund for fixed wireless and satellite broadband grants.
  • Appropriates $340M for the 2021-2022 fiscal year from the funds received by the State pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology Fund for broadband infrastructure grants.

Movement

Filed – 5/11/2021