State Broadband Bills Move Ahead
Several states advanced multiple broadband infrastructure bills Tuesday. The Indiana legislature passed HB-1277 to create an Indiana Code chapter governing administration of NTIA’s broadband equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program (see 2403010047). The Indiana House voted 90-0 to concur with…
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Senate amendments to the bill, which would require the state broadband office to be inclusive when awarding BEAD grants. It needs a signature from Gov. Eric Holcomb (R). The Virginia legislature approved HB-800 regulating how public utilities handle attachment requests (see 2402210043). Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) will consider it next. The Hawaii House passed a bill (HB-2710) requiring wireless carrier facilities to have eight hours of emergency backup power (see 2402280047). It will go to the Senate. Only Rep. Sam Kong (D) voted no. The Colorado House voted 55-10 Tuesday to pass a bill (HB-1234) that would indefinitely continue the state’s high-cost support mechanism for rural telecom providers. It will go to the Senate.