Amendment #1104 to H4700

Broadband Deployment

Mr. Cahill of Lynn moves to amend H.4700 by inserting after section 10 the following new sections:-

SECTION 10A. Section 1 of chapter 25C of the General Laws, as amended by section 13 of chapter 24 of the acts of 2021, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “166A and” the following words:- to the extent permitted under federal law.

SECTION 10B.  Said chapter 25C is hereby further amended by striking out section 9, as inserted by section 15 of said chapter 24, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 9.  Notwithstanding sections 6A and 8, the department shall have the powers and duties necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section. The department shall facilitate access to advanced telecommunications capability in the commonwealth, with a special interest in increasing the adoption of advanced telecommunications capability across the commonwealth to promote economic development and improve government efficiency and to improve the quality of life of the residents of the commonwealth. The powers and duties of the department shall include, but not be limited to: (i) collaborating with the Massachusetts Broadband Institute, established in section 6B of chapter 40J, in their efforts to identify areas that lack advanced telecommunications capability; (ii) identifying the reasons that households with access to advanced telecommunications capability do not adopt broadband services; and (iii) promoting federal subsidies for consumers designed to increase adoption of broadband services. The department shall work in consultation with the Massachusetts Broadband Institute for the purposes of carrying out this section.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #1104 to H4700

Broadband Deployment