Amendment #9 to H4714

Last Mile Broadband Study

Ms. Peake of Provincetown moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:

SECTION XX. There shall be a special commission to investigate, analyze and study any barriers and hindrances to the "last mile" connections to the broadband internet initiatives.  The special commission shall consist of thirteen members including: six members appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be from western Massachusetts; one of whom shall be from central Massachusetts; one of whom shall be from Cape Cod and the Islands; one of whom shall be the director of a community development corporation located in Barnstable county; one of whom shall be the director of a community development corporation located in Berkshire county; and one of whom shall be the director of a community development corporation located elsewhere in the Commonwealth; the secretary of energy and environmental affairs, or a designee; the secretary of housing and economic development, or a designee; one member of the house appointed by the speaker; one member of the house appointed by the minority leader; one member of the senate appointed by the senate president; one member of the senate appointed by the minority leader; and the director of the Massachusetts broadband institute.

The commission study shall include, but not be limited to, any economic, technical, statutory or regulatory barriers or other hindrances to close “last mile” connections being made.  The commission shall submit its findings and recommendations, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry those recommendations into effect by filing the same with the clerks of the house of representatives and senate, the house and senate committees on ways and means, and the joint committee on economic development and emerging technologies not later than January 31, 2019.