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Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
‘Resolve, To Evaluate Broadband Access and Its Economic Benefits in Maine’
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1 Department of Economic and Community Development and ConnectME Authority to evaluate the economic benefits of broadband. Resolved: That the Department of Economic and Community Development and the ConnectME Authority shall work with broadband providers, communities and regional economic development groups throughout the State to determine where existing broadband access provides economic benefits and where additional broadband access may increase economic opportunities within a community or region. The department and authority shall deliver a joint report to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology no later than January 15, 2016 indicating the findings of the department and authority. The committee may report out a bill based on the report to the Second Regular Session of the 127th Legislature.’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment is the minority report of the committee. This amendment replaces the bill with a resolve that directs the Department of Economic and Community Development and the ConnectME Authority to work with broadband providers, communities and regional economic development groups throughout the State to determine where existing broadband access provides economic benefits and where additional broadband access may increase economic opportunities within a community or region. This amendment directs the department and authority to report to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology by January 15, 2016. The amendment provides that the committee may report out a bill based on the report.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)