SECTION 1. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there is hereby established a special commission to study and report on the feasibility of establishing community broadband networks within the commonwealth to allow municipalities to offer their own competitive broadband internet services.

(b) The commission shall consist of 9 members as follows: the commissioner of the department of public utilities, or their designee who shall serve as chairperson; the commissioner of the department of telecommunications and cable who shall serve as vice-chair; one member to be appointed by the speaker of the house; one member appointed by the minority leader of the house; one member to be appointed by the senate president; one member to be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and three members to be appointed by the governor, one of whom shall have expertise in the field of internet service providers; one of whom shall represent rural communities with limited broadband access; and one of whom with expertise in municipal governance.

(c) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to this act.

(d) For the purposes of this section, a “community broadband network” shall mean a local shared network within a specified community or municipality designed to offer residents with network devices to gain entry to high speed internet access. A community broadband network may be contracted to deliver broadband services to the community.

(e) The commission shall file a report of its finding along with any draft legislation necessary to the house and senate clerks and shall file the same with the joint committee on telecommunications, utilities and energy no later than 12 months after the passage of this act.