An Act To Ensure Local Broadband Coverage

Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §9216  is enacted to read:

§ 9216.  Rulemaking; broadband services

The commission may adopt rules to require a communications service provider that is providing broadband services within at least 50% of a municipality's geographic area to expand its broadband services to all of the geographic area within that municipality. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

summary

This bill gives the Public Utilities Commission the authority to adopt rules to require a communications service provider that is providing broadband coverage within at least 50% of a municipality's geographic area to expand its broadband coverage to all of the geographic area within that municipality.