§ 9205. Oklahoma Broadband Office--Duties--Authority
Oklahoma Statutes AnnotatedTitle 74. State GovernmentEffective: May 6, 2022
Effective: May 6, 2022
74 Okl.St.Ann. § 9205
§ 9205. Oklahoma Broadband Office--Duties--Authority
B. The Office shall incorporate the information as described in subsection A of this section into a mapping system that depicts resources, broadband coverage, connectivity speeds, and other such features as the Office deems relevant. The Office may also purchase data sets it deems necessary to complete such mapping system.
E. The Office shall perform and maintain a study of existing grants, incentives, and programs that may improve physical access to broadband along with adoption of broadband technologies. The grants, incentives, and programs may include federal funds, state funds or resources, tribal funds or resources, donated funds, or funding available from foundations, endowments or similar resources, state or local tax incentives, state or local financing incentives or options, or federal, tribal, state or local regulatory policies that would be conducive to improving existing broadband access or establishing access where it does not currently exist. The Office shall regularly report on the currently available grants, incentives, and programs and how best to utilize each.
F. The Office shall create, and update no less than biannually, a Statewide Broadband Plan. The Plan shall detail what areas are served, underserved, or unserved according to the prevailing definitions of the FCC, and how best to improve the infrastructure and connectivity in underserved and unserved areas. The Plan shall include, but shall not be limited to, detailing a pathway for ninety-five percent (95%) of the state's population to be adequately served by June 30, 2028.
G. The Office shall create the Capital Projects Fund Grant Report or provide the necessary information to the state entity drafting the Report. The Report shall be submitted to the Department of the Treasury no later than September 24, 2022. The Office shall maintain the Report and submit any and all additional information as required. The Office shall work with the Joint Committee to ensure all approved broadband projects utilizing funds from the Capital Projects Fund follow the correct reporting requirements based on Department of Treasury guidance.
I. On or before October 31, 2022, the Office, with the advice of the Council, shall develop a set of broadband grants or incentive awards guidelines to be approved by the Board. The grants and incentive awards shall be for unserved and underserved areas. The Office shall submit a copy of the guidelines to the Office of the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, the Office of the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate, and to the offices of the chairs of the appropriate legislative committees. The guidelines shall:
2. Recommend any necessary controls including, but not limited to, capping the dollar amount of awards, allowing for an auditing process, and a process that allows for award clawbacks. These controls shall be in place to ensure the maximum efficiency of the incentive award and to protect against waste, fraud, or abuse; and
Credits
Laws 2022, c. 229, § 6, emerg. eff. May 6, 2022.
74 Okl. St. Ann. § 9205, OK ST T. 74 § 9205
Current with emergency effective legislation through Chapter 257 of the Second Regular Session of the 59th Legislature (2024). Some sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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